In what was their second to last home game, Georgia Southern Men’s basketball got a big win and downed South Alabama 81-74, keeping them in the race for the 2nd seed in the Sun Belt.

Led by junior guard, Montae Glenn, who recorded a double-double, scoring 17 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, senior guard, Mike Hughes, who scored a team-high 19 points, and junior guard, Tookie Brown, who added 18 points, the Eagles were able to control the tempo of the game, stifling the Jaguars.

South Alabama was led by junior Rodrick Sikes, who scored a game-high 23 points, and Herb McGee, who scored 14 points, in a losing effort at Hanner Fieldhouse.

GS led by nine points with just under seven minutes to play when the Jaguars roared back to pull within a point, leaving the game at 65-64. The Eagles put the game away behind clutch free throw shots from Ike Smith, Mike Hughes, and Tookie Brown.

The Eagles face the Troy Trojans on Saturday, March 3, which will be Senior day for five players, guards Jake Allsmiller, Mike Hughes and Tione Jones, and forwards B.J. Gladden and Coye Simmons.

A win against Troy guarantees GS the third seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Tournament, but with Georgia State on a losing streak as of late, an Eagle win and a Panther loss solidifies the second seed, and an easier path to the Sun Belt Championship.

Tip-off for Saturday’s contest is set for 5 p.m.

Ryan Kostensky, The George-Anne sports candidate, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu