Postgame radio interview with Brian Burg

STATESBORO – Justin Forrest scored 24 points, including 17 after halftime, and Appalachian State overcame a 22-point second-half deficit to top Georgia Southern 84-78 in double overtime Friday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Forrest's driving layup with 15.8 seconds left in regulation tied the score 63-63 and sent it into overtime, and the senior's triple from the wing with 37.7 seconds remaining in the first session tied the score 72-72 and ultimately sent the contest into another extra period. He broke a 74-74 tie in double overtime by scoring five straight points on a layup and a 3-pointer, giving the Mountaineers a 79-74 cushion with 1:09 to play.

Zack Bryant made two free throws for the Eagles to trim the margin to 79-76 with 43.7 to go, but Appalachian State sealed the win by hitting 5 of 6 from the free-throw line the rest of the way. 

Eagles of the Game 
Bryant finished with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Elijah McCadden tallied 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot. Eric Boone scored 11, and Prince Toyambi finished with seven points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

Key Moments
The Eagles (12-12, 6-9) held the Mountaineers to 1 for 14 from the field and forced four turnovers in a 20-2 run that lasted nearly 10:30 in the first half. Cam Bryant and Toyambi each scored four points during the stretch as the Eagles made 9 of 17 from the floor. GS held Appalachian State (13-10, 7-7) to 29 percent shooting and canned 57 percent of its field goals at the other end to lead 36-20 at halftime.

The margin grew to 46-24 on a Zack Bryant layup with 15:08 remaining, but App State made seven shots in a row in a 17-4 run that trimmed the lead to 50-41. Kamari Brown scored five straight for the Eagles to push the lead back to 13 with 9:05 to play, but Adrian Delph nailed three triples in an 18-4 run, capped by an Xavion Brown dunk, that put the Mountaineers in front 61-60 with 1:34 left.

McCadden hit a pair of free throws to put the Eagles back in front, and GS forced a turnover on App's next possession. Boone made 1 of 2 at the free-throw line for a two-point lead, setting up Forrest's layup with 15.8 left. Bryant's layup try was blocked by Brown as the horn to end regulation sounded. 

Stats and Notes
- Appalachian State wins the season series over the Eagles and has now won five straight against Georgia Southern.
- The Eagles will be the fifth seed from the East in next week's Sun Belt Championship in Pensacola, Florida.
- The Eagles outrebounded App State 53-35 overall and 21-12 on the offensive glass and outscored the Mountaineers 17-5 in second-chance points.
- GS shot 17 of 32 from the free-throw line. 

Next Up
The Eagles close the regular season by hosting Appalachian State Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+ and the GS Sports Network. It's a Blue Out, Senior Day and Alumni Day, and the game is presented by Belfor Property Restoration.