Postgame radio interview with Brian Burg

MUNCIE, Ind. – Jaylin Sellers finished with team highs of 17 points and seven rebounds, and Ball State shot 53 percent in the second half en route to a 58-54 men's basketball win over Georgia Southern Wednesday night in Worthen Arena.

Eagles of the Game
Carlos Curry led Georgia Southern with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Tai Strickland collected 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Kaden Archie netted 10 points, and Andrei Savrasov totaled eight points and six rebounds.

Key Moments 
With the Eagles trailing 55-51 following an and-1 by Jarron Coleman with 1:14 remaining, Tyren Moore scored on a driving layup and Archie followed with a pair of free throws to cut the margin to two points with 50 seconds left.

Demarius Jacobs drove to the hoop and was credited with a bucket on a goaltending call, and Archie missed a tough layup at the other end. GS forced a five second call on a Cardinals' inbounds play, and Jalen Finch was fouled going to the hoop and sank one free throw, making the score 57-54 with 14 seconds left. 

The Eagles fouled Payton Sparks, who made 1 of 2 from the line to extend the lead to four points, and Finch had his layup try blocked by Jacobs with five seconds left to seal the win for Ball State.

The Eagles trailed 51-45 at the under-4 media timeout but got within a basket after Strickland nailed two free throws and Curry made a 12-foot jumper. GS had a chance to tie the game, but Curry was whistled for an illegal screen, his fifth and final foul, with 2:54 to play.

Ball State used a 16-0 run in just over three minutes to erase a 38-24 deficit and take a 40-38 lead following a pair of Payton Sparks free throws. The Cardinals (8-4) made five shots in a row and scored 10 fast-break points during the spurt while GS was 0 for 4 with a turnover at the other end.

The Eagles (7-6) scored the last nine points of the first half and made the first basket of the second period to open a 26-17 cushion. A 9-1 Eagle run, capped by a Savrasov driving layup, extended the margin to 38-24 3:59 into the stanza.

Stats and Notes
- Georgia Southern finishes the non-conference schedule with a 7-6 record.
- Curry collected his third career double-double, all this season.
- The Eagles held Ball State to 6 for 26, including 3 of 18 to start the game, with nine turnovers in the first half.
- GS finished with single-digit turnovers for the fifth time this season.

Next up
The Eagles open Sun Belt play Dec. 29 against South Alabama in the nightcap of a doubleheader with the GS women's team in Hanner Fieldhouse. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. 

The following Hanner for the Holidays ticket specials are available for all games in Hanner through Jan. 7 at the Athletics Ticket Office in the Cowart Building Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m or at the gate on game days (gates open one hour prior to tipoff).
- Bulloch County High Schoolers can purchase discounted $3 tickets with their school ID.
- All active duty, retired and veteran military personnel may claim a free ticket and purchase discounted $3 tickets for their families.
- All Bulloch County Recreation Basketball players may claim a free ticket when they wear their jersey and their parents may purchase discounted $3 tickets.