Box Score

STATESBORO, GA - UNC Greensboro built a double-digit second half lead and then withstood a Georgia Southern comeback bid to defeat the Eagles 80-79 in Southern Conference men's basketball action at Hanner Fieldhouse Saturday evening.

Leading 50-49, the Spartans (9-15, 6-8) used a 16-7 run midway through the second half to build its largest lead at 66-56. Jay Joseph started the run with a three from the top of the key which was followed by a Sean McCarthy three point play with 12:21 to go to give UNCG a 56-49 advantage. After a Jean Francois jumper for GSU, Josh Gross and Tony Wilson hit back-to-back jumpers before the teams traded baskets the next two minutes of play. Joseph closed out the run with a jumper at the 7:33 mark to give UNC Greensboro its largest lead of the evening.

Georgia Southern (19-6, 10-4) began to fight back from there, scoring 14 of the next 17 points to take a 70-69 lead. Prentice Mobley started the run with a jumper from the left baseline and then fed Frank Bennett inside for a hook shot. Mobley eventually cut the Eagle deficit to one with a three from the left wing before UNCG's Ronnie Burrell hit a pair of free throws to push the Spartan lead back to three. A Bennett dunk and a pair of free throws by Francois closed out the Eagle spurt, giving GSU its final lead of the evening at the 2:59 mark.

Burrell gave the Spartans the lead back for good with a pair of free throws as the Spartans hit seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Georgia Southern had a chance to win the game as Francois hit a three with eight seconds to go before Terry Williams stole the in-bounds pass. However, GSU was unable to get off a shot as time expired.

The Eagles jumped out to a 17-4 lead over the first seven minutes of the game as its defense forced the Spartans into nine early turnovers. After Joseph opened the game with a jumper for UNCG, Bennett answered with a basket of his own before Chad Fleming gave Georgia Southern its first lead on a fast break lay-up. Bennett and Fleming would go on to account for 12 of the Eagles first 17 points before UNCG began to fight back.

The Spartans used a 10-2 run, behind six points from Burrell, over the next three minutes to cut its deficit to 19-14. Joseph opened the scoring with a jumper before Burrell got back-to-back lay ups. The junior forward eventually closed out the mini-spurt with a basket at the 9:53 mark. The Eagle lead slowly dwindled over the final minutes of the half with UNCG eventually tying the game at 39-39 at the half.

Burrell led all scorers with 27 while Joseph finished with 20. Ronnie Taylor also finished in double figures with 12. The Spartans shot 50.9 percent on the evening and owned a 41-33 advantage in rebounding, off-setting 27 turnovers.

Bennett led Georgia Southern with 23 while Francois added 12 and Williams 10. Williams also tallied seven assists and six of Georgia Southern's 14 steals. The Eagles shot 43.9 percent on the evening.

Georgia Southern returns to action Monday, February 23 when it hosts Southern Conference foe Elon at 7:30 p.m. in the Eagles' final home game of 2003-04. UNC Greensboro returns home to host Western Carolina at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening.