PREVIEW: Georgia Southern Squares Off with Georgia Tech Friday

STATESBORO – Georgia Southern men's basketball returns to the court on Friday evening, traveling to Atlanta, Georgia, to face off against Georgia Tech at the McCamish Pavilion. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACCNX and can be heard on the Varsity Network.

THE OPENING TIP

Revenge is on the mind for the Eagles on Friday evening in Atlanta, as Georgia Southern looks to turn around a heartbreaking result at the hands of Georgia Tech last season. The Eagles arrived in Atlanta with a 3-1 record, before falling, 68-66, to the Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion, which began a four-game skid through the Thanksgiving break. The Eagles led at the break, 37-36, before shooting 28% from the field and 50% from the free throw line in the second half. Nakavieon White knocked down a three-pointer with 10 seconds on the clock to cut the deficit to two, before grabbing the missed free throw attempt by the Yellow Jackets, but the Eagles were unable to get a shot off. The Eagles trailed the all-time series with the Yellow Jackets, 6-2, with Georgia Tech winning the past six matches. The last time Georgia Southern won in the series, was also the last time winning in Atlanta, where Georgia Southern knocked off Georgia Tech, 72-64, on December 1, 1958.
Dallas Gardner returned to the court for the first time in a Georgia Southern uniform and for the first time in over a year, after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL. Gardner entered off the bench, recording the first double-double of the season by scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native added two assists, one steal, and played 27 minutes in his first real competitive action since injury.
Eltramon Smith began his Georgia Southern career on Monday night at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, leading the scoring for the Eagles against Ball State. The third year forward played 31 minutes in his first action, collecting 24 points and five rebounds, while shooting 42.9% from the field.
Georgia Southern won its season opener 67-55 on Monday night, after playing one of the toughest defensive games in the Charlie Henry era. Despite not shooting great from the field, the Eagles continued to get to the line, knock down free throws, and play strong defense without fouling. In the plus-minus department, Dallas Gardner led all Eagles off the bench producing a 20-plus mark for the contest. He recorded the first double-double of the season for the Blue and White, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in his first outing with the squad. The 67 points scored by the Eagles were the second lowest in a season opener under coach Henry and were the lowest in a win to open the year. The 67 points were also the lowest in a victory for the Eagles since February 25, 2025, where the Eagles defeated Appalachian State, 61-59, in the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.
A pair of rookies on the Georgia Southern roster began their collegiate campaigns on Monday night, as Elton James and Jeromy Davis, both saw action in the Eagles' 67-55 victory over Ball State. James saw nine minutes of action against the Cardinals, collecting five points on 2-of-3 shooting, finishing 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Davis collected just over five minutes of action, registering his first collegiate points on a put-back dunk.

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Players Mentioned

Jeromy Davis

Dallas Gardner

Elton James

Eltramon Smith

Nakavieon White

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