Postgame radio interview with
Mark Byington
STATESBORO – Kane Williams collected 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Georgia State held Georgia Southern to 30 percent shooting in the second half to earn an 82-77 Sun Belt men's basketball win over the Eagles Saturday evening in Hanner Fieldhouse.
State picked up a point in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series, which Southern leads 5-4.
Eagles of the Game
Ike Smith led all scorers with 23 points and added eight rebounds, while
Isaiah Crawley notched 14 points, six boards and three assists.
Quan Jackson finished with 13 points and three steals.
Key moments
State (14-7, 7-3) trailed by 14 points with 12:58 remaining but went on a 21-6 run to open a brief 72-71 lead late in the contest. The Eagles committed seven turnovers during the stretch that led to eight points and missed four straight free throws on one possession after the Panthers were whistled for a technical foul.
The Eagles (12-9, 6-4) grabbed the lead right back on a Jackson runner with 4:03 remaining, and the teams traded the lead three more times. Smith gave Southern a 76-74 advantage with a triple from the wing with 2:32 to go following a Crawley offensive rebound and kickout, but that would be the Eagles' last basket of the game.
Nelson Phillips made a free throw on State's next possession, and the Panthers forced a shot clock violation on the Eagles' trip down the floor. Josh Lindner scored a putback layup for the Panthers, and
Williams got a steal and a run out layup to increase the State lead to 79-76 with 37 seconds left. After Smith missed a triple try for Southern, Williams added 1 of 2 from the charity stripe with 21 seconds remaining.
Key stats
Ten of the Eagles' 17 turnovers came in the second half, and State capitalized by scoring 14 points on the miscues. The Panthers also owned an 18-10 advantage on the offensive glass in the contest, resulting in 19 second-chance points.
Next up
GS continues its three-game homestand Thursday, Jan. 30, when the Eagles play host to Troy at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. It's Student Appreciation Night, sponsored by The Hudson and The George.
