ELON, N.C. — Georgia Southern senior Anthony Marshall led all scorers with a career-high 17 points to guide the Eagles to a 67-57 victory over Elon Thursday at Alumni Gym.
GSU runs its winning streak to three and improves to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix fall to 7-10 and 5-4.
Marshall had nine of his 17 points from behind the 3-point line and another six from the charity stripe. He shot 3-for-7 from long-range and 6-for-8 at the line.
“I thought he was really, really good off the bench,” said GSU head coach Jeff Price. “He’s a consummate team guy and gives us exactly what we need. He gives us fire and flair when he comes off the bench, he makes shots and he’s a veteran smart player.”
Senior Matthew Fields notched his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Louis Graham and freshman Willie Powers added 11 points each.
The Eagles struggled at the outset, shooting just 2-for-13 in the first eight-plus minutes of the contest with five turnovers. Elon jumped out to a 12-4 lead during that time but surrendered an 11-2 run to allow Georgia Southern to earn a one-point advantage.
Elon scored just eight points in the final 9:35 of the first half and GSU outscored the Phoenix 12-2 in the last 5:02 of the period to take a 32-22 lead into halftime.
“We got off to a really slow start offensively and that was a concern. We had four points in eight minutes but on the flip side of that, they only had 12. I thought our defense was fairly solid. The press changed the game. It took them out of their offensive patterns and made them take shots they’re not accustomed to making. They had 13 turnovers and three assists at the half – that’s a sign of a team that’s (being pressed). I thought that changed the game.”
The Phoenix shot just 35.3 percent from the floor for the game and 33.3 percent in the first half.
Elon managed to cut the deficit to four, 39-35, with 15:46 to go in the game but Georgia Southern answered with a 9-0 burst, capped off with a lay-up by Fields.
The Phoenix got within six (55-49) with 6:15 to play, but the Eagles answered with a bucket on their next possession and did not allow Elon any closer the rest of the game.
Elon’s Brett James tallied a team-high 15 points on three of four shooting from long range. Ola Otoyebi notched 13.
GSU runs its winning streak to three and improves to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix fall to 7-10 and 5-4.
Marshall had nine of his 17 points from behind the 3-point line and another six from the charity stripe. He shot 3-for-7 from long-range and 6-for-8 at the line.
“I thought he was really, really good off the bench,” said GSU head coach Jeff Price. “He’s a consummate team guy and gives us exactly what we need. He gives us fire and flair when he comes off the bench, he makes shots and he’s a veteran smart player.”
Senior Matthew Fields notched his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Louis Graham and freshman Willie Powers added 11 points each.
The Eagles struggled at the outset, shooting just 2-for-13 in the first eight-plus minutes of the contest with five turnovers. Elon jumped out to a 12-4 lead during that time but surrendered an 11-2 run to allow Georgia Southern to earn a one-point advantage.
Elon scored just eight points in the final 9:35 of the first half and GSU outscored the Phoenix 12-2 in the last 5:02 of the period to take a 32-22 lead into halftime.
“We got off to a really slow start offensively and that was a concern. We had four points in eight minutes but on the flip side of that, they only had 12. I thought our defense was fairly solid. The press changed the game. It took them out of their offensive patterns and made them take shots they’re not accustomed to making. They had 13 turnovers and three assists at the half – that’s a sign of a team that’s (being pressed). I thought that changed the game.”
The Phoenix shot just 35.3 percent from the floor for the game and 33.3 percent in the first half.
Elon managed to cut the deficit to four, 39-35, with 15:46 to go in the game but Georgia Southern answered with a 9-0 burst, capped off with a lay-up by Fields.
The Phoenix got within six (55-49) with 6:15 to play, but the Eagles answered with a bucket on their next possession and did not allow Elon any closer the rest of the game.
Elon’s Brett James tallied a team-high 15 points on three of four shooting from long range. Ola Otoyebi notched 13.
