Postgame radio interview with Brian Burg

Postgame radio interview with Jalen Finch

STATESBORO – Jalen Finch tallied season highs of 17 points and eight assists and took a big charge late in the game as Georgia Southern fended off Marshall for an 81-76 Sun Belt men's basketball win Thursday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Eagles of the Game
Finch made 7 of 12 from the field and added four rebounds, while Andrei Savrasov led the Eagles with 18 points and added three rebounds and three steals. Tai Strickland finished with 13 points and three boards, and Kaden Archie totaled 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. 

Carlos Curry finished with seven points, a team-high eight rebounds and an assist, while Kamari Brown posted 10 points and seven rebounds.

Key Moments 
Marshall (12-4, 1-2) whittled a 19-point first-half deficit down to 78-76 on a Micah Handlogten layup with 1:06 to play. Finch missed a runner for the Eagles but hustled back on defense and took a charge from Taevion Kinsey (22 points) with 31 seconds to go. Finch was fouled after the ball was inbounded and made 1 of 2 free throws, and the Eagles finished the game with three defensive stops and a pair of free throws by Archie.

Georgia Southern (10-6, 3-0) used an 11-1 run to open a 19-7 cushion on a Strickland layup 5:39 into the contest. Two dunks by Brown sparked a 12-4 run that pushed the advantage to 39-21, and the Eagles led by 19 points following a Savrasov fast-break layup with 1:06 left in the frame.

Kinsey scored Marshall's last 13 points of the half all in the final 2:15. He netted the last six points in the game to spark a 15-3 run that bridged halftime and trimmed the margin to 51-45 3:09 into the second period. The Thundering Herd trailed by eight points with 3:17 remaining before Handlogten scored six straight points to cut the deficit to two.

Stats and Notes
- The Eagles shot 70 percent (21 for 30) in the first half. It was the second time they have shot 70 percent in a half this season (70 percent, 21 for 30 at Houston Christian Nov. 19).
- The Eagles owned a 42-28 rebounding edge, including a 13-10 advantage on the offensive glass. 
- GS shot 57.4 percent for the game (35-61) and made 3 of 8 from 3-point range.
- GS improves to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
- It was the first meeting between the teams since 1997 and the first as members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Next up
GS plays host to Old Dominion Saturday at 3 p.m., and the contest will air live on ESPN+ and the GS Sports Network.

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.