STATESBORO – There was only 10 minutes left in the Eagles' practice on a Wednesday, just two days before Georgia Southern was set to play its Sun Belt Tournament opener, in a small gym tucked away in the student center at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

The Eagles were working on some halfcourt team defense, when the possession ended with Montae Glenn on the floor holding his leg. The 6-foot-8 center hobbled off the court to the baseline without much of a reaction, and to the casual observer, it he appeared his leg may have just cramped up. 

Unfortunately, for one of the leading offensive rebounders in the country and for Eagle basketball, it was his knee and proved to be the end of his season.

"It was pretty tough and terrible timing, but I knew once it happened, I had to be there for my teammates even though it was hard for me with what I was going through," said Glenn. "I just tried to encourage them and show enthusiasm on the bench and just trying to keep guys up if they got down."

"There for his teammates" is an understatement. 

Glenn was engaged from the get-go, cheering vociferously, and often using 5-foot-8 walk-on Tione Jones as his personal crutch to jump up and down on the bench and hop in and out of huddles. Fellow big man Coye Simmons, his replacement in the starting lineup, helped GS beat ULM to get to the semis, but the Eagles fell too far behind Georgia State and saw their furious rally come up short against the Panthers. 

It was a tough pill to swallow for Glenn and the Eagles. 

Glenn spent the offseason between his sophomore and junior years improving his body, and all the hard work paid off with a breakout season. He ranked first in the Sun Belt and second in the country in offensive rebounds (4.2/gm) and averaged nine points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a game. He reached double figures in rebounds in 10 games and led the team in rebounding in 21 contests on his way to ranking fifth in the SBC in rebounds and fourth in blocked shots. 

Now a senior, Glenn has spent the most recent offseason working on his body as well, but this time, spending countless hours rehabbing the injured knee after surgery. It has been a frustrating grind at times. 

"The hardest part was not being able to put weight on it for like six weeks and then starting to walk on it again," he said. "I've been doing mainly skill work and rehabbing and trying to keep it strong."

Glenn will be ready to go when the Eagles open the campaign with a home exhibition contest against Charleston Southern in Hanner Fieldhouse on Oct. 30, but getting back to where he was will be a process, at least early in the season.

"Right now, I'm not in too bad of shape, but I have to get in better shape - game shape - so it will be a process throughout," he said.

Having a healthy low-post scorer with his ability to rebound and block shots will be a key to the Eagles success this season. 

"Right now, his biggest challenge is to get back 100 percent healthy and see if he can take the very good year he had for us last year and take it one step higher," said Georgia Southern head coach Mark Byington. "When he is on the court, you see a seasoned guy who knows how to play basketball so his intelligence and skill set is what separates him."

Sharing his intelligence with six newcomers, two of whom are post players, and continuing to mentor redshirt freshman and 7-footer Tyshaun Crawford will also be important for the Eagles. Along with continuing to grow as a basketball player, Glenn knows he has to grow as a leader.

"I feel like I can be a better leader on the court, with communication and helping my teammates out with everything," he said. "Tookie (Brown), Ike (Smith) and I are just trying to help them in any way we can. We talk to them in practice and hang out off the court to try to get that team chemistry together."

The Eagles have the talent to play on Sunday at the Sun Belt Tournament this year, and Glenn has some insight on how GS can improve on last year's 21-win campaign.

"We have to stay together on and off the court, keep working hard and become a real tight-knit group, become one. Play hard and play together," he said.
 

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Georgia Southern reached 20 wins for the second time in four years in 2017-18, posting a 21-12 mark, and joined Louisiana and UTA as the only three Sun Belt schools to notch double-digit conference wins in each of the last four seasons. The Eagles return three starters and five lettermen to the 2018-19 team and open the campaign with a home exhibition contest against Charleston Southern in Hanner Fieldhouse Oct. 30.

Georgia Southern annually offers one of the best values in the Sun Belt for men's basketball season tickets and this year is no different. Season tickets in the lower reserved sections (F-J) are $175 and sell out quickly while season tickets in the upper reserved sections (7-12) are $140. General admission season tickets are $100 and courtside seats are $450 each (minimum $1,200 Eagle Fund donation required to purchase courtside seats).

Fans who purchase a men's season tickets will have a women's season ticket included for no additional charge.