STATESBORO, Ga. – Josh Hagins scored 16 points, and Little Rock shot 51 percent from the field to cruise by Georgia Southern 75-61 in Sun Belt Conference men's basketball action Saturday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Tookie Brown scored 16 points to lead Georgia Southern (12-14, 8-8) after making 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, while Devonte Boykins scored 11. Jonathan Sanks finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

Hagins made 6 of 10 from the field and 4 of 8 from long distance for Little Rock (24-3, 14-2), while Jalen Jackson tallied 12 points and seven rebounds. Roger Woods collected 12 points and four assists, and Maurius Hill chipped in nine points and six rebounds. 

Georgia Southern played without second-leading scorer Mike Hughes, who missed the game with an injury.

The story
Hill netted five points in a 10-0 Little Rock run that extended a four-point Trojan lead to 14 points late in the first half, and Little Rock took a 41-31 cushion into intermission. Hagins scored eight points, and Little Rock opened the second frame with a 12-0 run to blow the game open. Georgia Southern missed its first six shots of the period, while Little Rock knocked down seven of their first 10 at the other end.

The margin grew to 23 points on a Woods dunk off a Hagins assist with 12:59 to go, and the lead did not fall below 16 points until the game's final minute. 

Quotables by Georgia Southern coach Mark Byington
"We were completely out of rhythm. Little Rock is the best defensive team in the league, and they took away things. We never could settle into the game. To be able to compete tonight, we were going to need to have one of our best defensive performances because I knew it would be hard to score against them. The offense was ugly – it was not very good – but I'm a little more disappointed at our defense because that's where I thought we were going to have to do well to be able to have a chance to win tonight."

"Early on, some of the guys that we were supposed to crowd and take away 3-point shots, we let them get loose and they got us. We missed a big offensive rebound in the first half on a free-throw and then they kicked it out for a 3-pointer. Things like that just can't happen. We can't make too many mistakes like that and beat a good team. We don't have to be perfect, but we can't have too many mistakes. We have to be locked in and make sure we're doing our job."

"For some reason tonight, we didn't have the same energy that we've had in the past. Even with a lot of Saturday games after we've played a longer, more excruciating game on Thursday, we didn't have the same energy. We lacked energy. We lacked toughness. We lacked the things that you have to do in order to win. That is something that everybody can bring every single night regardless of your talent, but it was just lacking tonight."

Next Up
The Eagles continue their four-game homestand by playing host to Georgia State Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse. One point is on the line in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Other promotions: Whiteout – Wear white to the game!; Sign Making Station will be set up for fans to get creative and show their True Blue spirit on the national broadcast; Fans will be able to enjoy multiple music groups at the game, including DJ Nino, the University Singers, Statesboro High School Drumline and as always, the loud and proud Hoop Troop; Free white out t-shirts will be handed out to students (while supplies last) as well as any fan who brings a Flight game program from the Eagles' softball home opener earlier that day at 4 p.m.; Free pizza for students while supplies last; Two students will win $1,000, courtesy of the Georgia Lottery; Join GUS in the student section at 5:30 p.m. for the Dab Video on national television.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.