Men’s Basketball Finalizes 2019-20 Schedule
8/26/2019 12:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles will play 14 contests in Hanner Fieldhouse.
STATESBORO – A game at 2019 Final Four participant Auburn, the first meeting against Georgia since 2001 and home contests against Mercer and Radford highlight the Georgia Southern men's basketball non-conference schedule, announced today by head coach Mark Byington.
"I am really excited about our non-conference schedule this year, and I know it will challenge us as well as get us ready for Sun Belt Conference competition," said Byington. "Last year, we played the 21st toughest non-conference schedule in the country, and this year's could be as daunting as that one."
The Eagles open the 2019-20 campaign Nov. 5 at Auburn, which lost to eventual national champion Virginia in the national semifinals last season. The Eagles are searching for their first win against the Tigers and fell 92-62 in the last meeting in 2015.
"Opening up at Auburn will be a difficult test right away; they have tremendous team back after being in the Final Four last year and easily could have won the national championship," said Byington.
GS plays its home opener against Reinhardt Nov. 8, starting a stretch of three of four games in Hanner Fieldhouse, where the Eagles are 60-22 in the last six seasons. After a short trip to North Florida Nov. 11, GS plays host to Radford (Nov. 15) and Mercer (Nov. 19) before the Thanksgiving holiday. Radford fell in the Big South Tournament championship game, while Mercer, which Georgia Southern has played more than any other opponent, makes its first visit to Hanner since 2007.
"We are looking forward to opening a series with North Florida, and they have very talented team that will be one of the best in the Atlantic Sun Conference," said Byington. "Hosting Radford and Mercer should be great games for our fans. Radford has a great team and could win the Big South Conference, and we look forward to having Mercer on campus for the first time since I have been coaching at Georgia Southern."
The Eagles will take on Campbell (Nov. 29), North Dakota (Nov. 30) and Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 1) in the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Classic. GS plays host to Carver Dec. 6, before traveling to defending Missouri Valley Tournament champion Bradley Dec. 15.
"I believe the tournament at Florida Gulf Coast will give us tournament preparation against really good basketball programs, and we end our three-year series at Bradley University this year after having a great game against them last year," said Byington. "They won the Missouri valley tournament last season and nearly upset Michigan State in the NCAA tournament."
The Eagles round out the non-conference schedule by traveling to Georgia Dec. 23, in their first contest in Athens since 1997.
"Georgia has high expectations after a top-5 recruiting class, and I'm glad we can schedule that game because I know a lot of fans have been wanting us to play them," said Byington. "I love the fact that most games are regional this year and with the exception of the Bradley game and the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament, all the games are within a four-hour drive of our campus."
As a result of the 20-game docket, the Sun Belt schedule will begin before the new year with Texas State (Dec. 19) and UTA (Dec. 21) traveling to Hanner Fieldhouse. Longtime rival Appalachian State (Feb. 15) along with Coastal Carolina (Feb. 13) will visit Statesboro for the first time since 2016-17. GS caps a three-game conference road trip by traveling to Atlanta to face the Panthers Feb. 29, before hosting Arkansas State in the final regular-season contest March 3.
The Eagles return 68 percent of their scoring and 69 percent of their rebounding to the 2019-20 squad. Ike Smith, who received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA to compete this season, enters the year ranked 13th on the school's career Division I scoring list. He needs 21 points and eight rebounds to become the fifth Eagle with 1,500 career points and 500 boards. Quan Jackson, an All-Sun Belt selection a season ago, is back and enters his junior campaign 309 points shy of 1,000.
The season ticket renewal deadline is Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, and season tickets not renewed and paid in full by the renewal deadline will be released to the general public. Season tickets for the 2019-20 season start at $100 for general admission seating and $140 for reserved seats. Tickets can be purchased at GSEagles.com/tickets.
"I am really excited about our non-conference schedule this year, and I know it will challenge us as well as get us ready for Sun Belt Conference competition," said Byington. "Last year, we played the 21st toughest non-conference schedule in the country, and this year's could be as daunting as that one."
The Eagles open the 2019-20 campaign Nov. 5 at Auburn, which lost to eventual national champion Virginia in the national semifinals last season. The Eagles are searching for their first win against the Tigers and fell 92-62 in the last meeting in 2015.
"Opening up at Auburn will be a difficult test right away; they have tremendous team back after being in the Final Four last year and easily could have won the national championship," said Byington.
GS plays its home opener against Reinhardt Nov. 8, starting a stretch of three of four games in Hanner Fieldhouse, where the Eagles are 60-22 in the last six seasons. After a short trip to North Florida Nov. 11, GS plays host to Radford (Nov. 15) and Mercer (Nov. 19) before the Thanksgiving holiday. Radford fell in the Big South Tournament championship game, while Mercer, which Georgia Southern has played more than any other opponent, makes its first visit to Hanner since 2007.
"We are looking forward to opening a series with North Florida, and they have very talented team that will be one of the best in the Atlantic Sun Conference," said Byington. "Hosting Radford and Mercer should be great games for our fans. Radford has a great team and could win the Big South Conference, and we look forward to having Mercer on campus for the first time since I have been coaching at Georgia Southern."
The Eagles will take on Campbell (Nov. 29), North Dakota (Nov. 30) and Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 1) in the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Classic. GS plays host to Carver Dec. 6, before traveling to defending Missouri Valley Tournament champion Bradley Dec. 15.
"I believe the tournament at Florida Gulf Coast will give us tournament preparation against really good basketball programs, and we end our three-year series at Bradley University this year after having a great game against them last year," said Byington. "They won the Missouri valley tournament last season and nearly upset Michigan State in the NCAA tournament."
The Eagles round out the non-conference schedule by traveling to Georgia Dec. 23, in their first contest in Athens since 1997.
"Georgia has high expectations after a top-5 recruiting class, and I'm glad we can schedule that game because I know a lot of fans have been wanting us to play them," said Byington. "I love the fact that most games are regional this year and with the exception of the Bradley game and the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament, all the games are within a four-hour drive of our campus."
As a result of the 20-game docket, the Sun Belt schedule will begin before the new year with Texas State (Dec. 19) and UTA (Dec. 21) traveling to Hanner Fieldhouse. Longtime rival Appalachian State (Feb. 15) along with Coastal Carolina (Feb. 13) will visit Statesboro for the first time since 2016-17. GS caps a three-game conference road trip by traveling to Atlanta to face the Panthers Feb. 29, before hosting Arkansas State in the final regular-season contest March 3.
The Eagles return 68 percent of their scoring and 69 percent of their rebounding to the 2019-20 squad. Ike Smith, who received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA to compete this season, enters the year ranked 13th on the school's career Division I scoring list. He needs 21 points and eight rebounds to become the fifth Eagle with 1,500 career points and 500 boards. Quan Jackson, an All-Sun Belt selection a season ago, is back and enters his junior campaign 309 points shy of 1,000.
The season ticket renewal deadline is Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, and season tickets not renewed and paid in full by the renewal deadline will be released to the general public. Season tickets for the 2019-20 season start at $100 for general admission seating and $140 for reserved seats. Tickets can be purchased at GSEagles.com/tickets.
Players Mentioned
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