Gardner and Smith Lead the Charge as Eagles Defeat Ball State 67-55

Monday, November 2

7 p.m.

Georgia Southern University

1-0,0-0Sun Belt

Ball State

0-1,0-0MAC

Team	1	2	F
Ball St.	22	33	55
Ga. Southern	37	30	67

Box Score (PDF)

11/2/2026 10:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern (1-0) defeated Ball St. (0-1) 67-55 Monday night. The Eagles used a first-half 17-0 run, moving from a 2-0 deficit at 18:09 to a 17-2 lead by the 12:16 mark.

After Jaden Smith's two free throws gave Ball St. a 2-0 lead, the Eagles answered with a 17-0 run that included two Jayden Williams layups, five points from Eltramon Smith, a Truman Claytor IV 3-pointer and Elton James' layup and free throw to move ahead 17-2. The stretch coincided with a Ball St. scoring drought that lasted until Trey Lewis' free throws at 11:43, and the Eagles pushed the lead to 23-4 on Dallas Gardner's layup and an Elton James jumper. Ball St. cut the margin to 27-15 on back-to-back 3-pointers by K'Jei Parker and Javion Guy-King, but the Eagles steadied the half with Elidjah Savane's layup, Smith's dunk off a Gardner assist and Josh Dixon's two free throws. Dixon added a steal and layup at the horn to send the Eagles into halftime ahead 37-22.

The Eagles built on their advantage right away in the second half, as Smith made four early free throws, Dallas Gardner added two at the line and a layup, and Smith hit a transition 3-pointer off a Gardner assist for a 48-23 lead at 16:02. After Josh Dixon's layup and a Gardner free throw pushed the score to 54-26, Ball St. pieced together a response that included Kai McGrew's second-chance layup, Javion Guy-King's fastbreak jumper, Mason Jones' transition 3-pointer and Jazz Henderson's 3-pointer to move the score to 56-39 at 7:30. Smith answered Henderson's 3-pointer with one of his own off Dixon's assist at 7:16 and added a layup after McGrew's layup and free throw, and the Eagles were ahead 63-42 after Gardner's free throw at 5:26. Ball St. scored the next eight points to get to 63-50, but Rashaad Williams hit a 3-pointer at 1:18 and Dixon's late free throw closed the scoring in the Eagles' 67-55 win.

Smith scored 24 points, made three 3-pointers and converted 9 of 11 free throws. Gardner finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, including 12 defensive boards. Jayden Williams recorded six points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists. Elidjah Savane collected six rebounds, four on the offensive glass, and added a block.

Game Notes:
- Gardner - Posted a career-high with 13 total rebounds.
- James - Achieved a season total of 5 points for the first time.
- Smith - Set a new career-high with 24 total points.

Up next, the Eagles visit Georgia Tech on Friday, Nov. 6. Tipoff is set for 12 a.m. at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia.