With the opening of the new Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center in December, Hanner Fieldhouse is bidding farewell as the home court of Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball. To mark this historic moment, the Eagles celebrated their final opening game at Hanner with a special event dubbed the “Last Ride In Hanner,” commemorating the 55 years the stadium has been the heart of the team’s basketball legacy.

As part of the festivities, fans were given commemorative tickets upon entry, along with a roll of toilet paper to throw onto the court once the Eagles scored their first basket—an homage to a beloved tradition at Hanner. When that moment arrived, the atmosphere exploded as toilet paper rained down onto the floor, with Gus, the Eagles’ mascot, diving into the pile as more paper fell from the stands.

Adante’ Holiman, the Eagles’ point guard, reflected on the experience, saying, “It was my first time seeing it, so it was pretty cool. Luckily, I was on the bench, so I didn’t get hit with the toilet paper, but it was fun.”

The game itself was a dominant performance by the Eagles, who cruised to an 80-65 victory. By the end of the first half, Georgia Southern had built a commanding 16-point lead, and they never looked back.

Game Recap:

1st Half:
The Eagles came out strong, with Eugene Brown III hitting a three-pointer to start the game, just as the first rolls of toilet paper flew through the air—a fitting tribute to the tradition. Georgia Southern never trailed in the game, and a three-pointer from Eren Banks put them ahead 18-10. Although Northern Illinois briefly cut the lead to one, the Eagles quickly regained control.

Adante’ Holiman, making his debut for Georgia Southern, was a standout performer in the first half. He hit five three-pointers in the game, including a clutch second-half shot that helped the Eagles maintain their lead going into the break. At halftime, the Eagles were up 40-24.

Holiman credited his teammates for his success: “My teammates got me the ball in open situations,” he said. “They had drive-and-kick plays, and I ended up being open. I appreciate them for finding me in those situations.”

2nd Half:
The Eagles continued to showcase their depth and talent throughout the second half, maintaining a lead of 13 or more points for the rest of the game. Tyson Brown added to the lead with a clutch mid-half free throw and a second-chance point, pushing the advantage to 19.

As the game neared its end, the excitement reached a fever pitch when Dontae Horne threw a picture-perfect alley-oop to Bradley Douglas, capping off a memorable night for the Eagles.

The final score was 80-65, with Georgia Southern securing their first win of the season and their first victory over Northern Illinois since 1998.

Notable Stats:

• Adante’ Holiman led the charge with 19 points, shooting 5-7 from beyond the arc.
• Bradley Douglas added 17 points, while Eugene Brown III and Tyson Brown each chipped in with 10 points.
• Nate Bradford contributed 7 rebounds, while Dontae Horne filled the stat sheet with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

The Eagles shot 48% from the field, including 44% from three-point range, hitting 12 threes in the game.

This win marked Georgia Southern’s first non-conference victory since the 2022-23 season and was a memorable way to close out Hanner Fieldhouse’s legacy.

Next up, the Eagles will head to Wilmington, North Carolina, for a road game against UNCW on Friday.

Women’s Basketball Victory:

In addition to the men’s team, the Georgia Southern Women’s Basketball team also celebrated their first win of the season, defeating Ohio 82-70. They will next play away at North Florida before returning home for their first home game of the season on November 12th against Bethune-Cookman.