ROCK HILL, S.C. – A season-high 24 points - and the first 20-point effort in a Georgia Southern uniform for Nakavieon White - led men's basketball (3-1) to a win over NC Central (0-4) in the first game of the Rock Hill Classic.

"I have been involved with a lot of these [MTEs], and man, you really want to win that first one, so it's good to get the first one," head coach Charlie Henry said. "I would have liked to close it out better when we built the lead. We'll turn our attention towards Winthrop and try to get a great win tomorrow."

It was a low-scoring affair early on, but White's first triple of the contest gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead at the under-16. Both teams traded buckets until a pair of Micah Smith free throws made it a 17-14 advantage at 8:57.

White extended his point total to 13 before a pair of Adante' Holiman three-balls gave the Eagles their first ten-point lead of the night.

NCCU cut it back to three over the next three minutes. Holiman sunk two of three free throws to push the Eagles' lead back to six heading into the locker room. White extended his point total to 20 in the first half.

GS stormed to a 7-0 run out of the break. Eugene Brown III's layup at 17:42 made the spread 13 points, the largest the Eagles had.

The team stretched the lead to as much as 16 thrice in the second frame, the last of which came on a White jumper at 6:11. 

NCCU crept to within six points after knocking down a three, but Holiman's clutch free throws sealed the deal with the Eagles winning 80-75, their third 80-point effort in the first four games of the season.

The Eagles shot an even 50 percent from the field including 58 percent in the second half.

White's 24 points and six boards led the Eagles, his first 20-point effort at the Division I level. He is averaging 15 points per game over the last three games.

"My teammates believing in me is the main reason I am having success," he said. "They believe in what I'm capable of and I believe in myself. Coach is putting me in a great position to do what I'm capable of and what I'm best at, and having the trust of my teammates to do so is huge."

Holiman (15), Avantae Parker (12) and Bradley Douglas (10) all reached double figures, with Douglas and Holiman continuing their streak of double-digit scoring efforts. Eren Banks had four assists and Parker led the way with three steals.

The Eagles are 3-1 and have scored 80 or more three times through the first three games, both for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

GS will take on host Winthrop on Saturday for the second game.