Postgame radio interview with Gedi Juozapaitis and Kaden Archie

Postgame radio interview with Brian Burg

STATESBORO – Gedi Juozapaitis led six Eagles in double figures with 15 points, and Georgia Southern pulled away with a 7-0 run late to top Ball State 82-71 in the basketball season opener for both teams Tuesday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Eagles of the Game 
Kamari Brown finished with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Prince Toyambi, Cam Bryant and Andrei Savrasov netted 11 points. Toyambi and Savrasov each collected seven rebounds, and Bryant had six boards. Tre Cobbs contributed 10 points and two assists, and Kaden Archie recorded nine points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Key Moments
The game saw nine lead changes and four ties, and Bryant gave the Eagles (1-0) the final lead of the game with a 3-pointer with 7:37 to play. After a Jalen Windham triple trimmed the margin to four points with 4:37 left for Ball State, the Eagles scored the next seven over a span of 2:26 to open a 77-66 cushion. 

The Cardinals (0-1) made one last run, and Jaylin Sellers' fastbreak layup cut the lead to 77-71 with 1:28 remaining, but Savrasov answered with a layup and the Eagles held Ball State scoreless the rest of the way. 

Stats and Notes
The Eagles shot 53 percent from the floor for the game and 61 percent in the first half. After Ball State made eight triples in the first half, GS held the Cardinals to 3 of 15 in the second frame.

Up Next
The Eagles travel to South Florida for a noon contest Saturday before returning home to face Bob Jones Tuesday, Nov. 16.