GSU battles back to take down Furman in overtime

Robert Huitt

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The Georgia Southern University men’s basketball team made crucial plays down the stretch

Thursday in its 88-81 victory over the Furman University Paladins.

Redshirt junior guard Jelani Hewitt knocked down a clutch three to tie the game at 71 with 15.5

seconds remaining.

“I was pretty confident letting it go,” Hewitt said. “I wanted to be the guy to take the shot, and it

went in for us.”

Hewitt finished the game with 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but the performances of

senior guard Tre Bussey and junior forward Angel Matias were equally as important.

Bussey led the Eagles with 26 points, connecting on five of his seven three point attempts. His

three-point shooting kept the Paladins from pulling away and allowed the Eagles to remain in

striking distance.

Matias turned in arguably his best performance of the season, finishing with 21 points and 10

rebounds. He attacked the boards with the relentlessness that an undersized forward needs and

even drained two three pointers that shifted the momentum of the game.

In addition to the big plays made on offense, the defense made the necessary stops and rebounds

to pull out the victory.

Sophomore guard Stephen Croone and sophomore Kendrec Ferrara scored 26 and 21 points,

respectively. Croone was efficient from the floor, but his seven turnovers gave the Eagles extra

possessions and opportunities to get out into transition.

The Eagles hit the road to take on Appalachian State University Saturday at 2 p.m.