Postgame radio interview with Brian Burg

ATLANTA – Justin Roberts hit a baseline jumper for the go-ahead bucket with 39.5 seconds to play, and Georgia State sealed the win with six free throws down the stretch to hold off Georgia Southern, 79-75, in Sun Belt men's basketball action Thursday night in the GSU Sports Arena.

With the Eagles trailing 77-72, Kamari Brown fed Gedi Juozapaitis for his fifth triple of the game with 4.4 seconds remaining. The Panthers inbounded to Roberts, who sealed the win with a pair of free throws with three seconds left. 

Eagles of the Game 
Zack Bryant led Southern with 21 points on 10 of 15 shooting and added two assists and a blocked shot, and Juozapaitis finished with 17 points. Eric Boone posted 11 points, three steals and three assists.

Key Moments
The game was tight throughout with eight ties and nine lead changes in the contest, and five lead changes came in the final 3:42. A Corey Allen triple put State (9-5, 3-4) ahead 69-68, but Boone was fouled and hit two free throws for the Eagles (12-10, 6-7) for a one-point lead with 1:34 to go. Jalen Thomas grabbed a loose ball and hit a floater in the lane on the Panthers' trip down the floor, and after a timeout, Bryant got to the rim for a layup and a 72-71 Southern lead with 55.6 seconds left. 

After Roberts hit his jumper to put State back in front, Juozapaitis missed a contested triple from the wing, and Thomas got the rebound and was fouled with 23.2 seconds left. The sophomore made them both, and Boone's long triple from the top of the key was short. The Eagles fouled Allen, who made two more free throws for a 77-72 cushion with 8.3 remaining. 

Stats and Notes
- The Panthers outrebounded the Eagles 43-31, including 19-13 on the offensive glass.
- State outscored Southern 17-6 at the free-throw line and shot 22 from the charity stripe, compared to the Eagles' seven.
- The Eagles made 11 of 27 from 3-point range, including 8 of 16 in the first half, but managed just 3 of 11 in the second period. 
- Southern shot over 40 percent from long distance for the third straight game and eighth time this season.

Next Up
The teams will do it again Saturday in Hanner Fieldhouse with tipoff set for 3 p.m. on the GS Sports Network and ESPN+. It's a White Out, presented by Morris Bank, and the Georgia Southern SAAC is collecting new socks to donate to homeless shelters in Bulloch County. The game is sold out.