Coastal Carolina's Rasheed Jones stole the show at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, leading his team to a 79-75 victory over Georgia Southern. Jones' impressive 28-point, 8-rebound performance propelled Coastal Carolina to their 13th win of the season, matching Georgia Southern's record. The Chanticleers' victory was fueled by a strong second-half effort, where they outscored the Eagles 37-30.
The first half belonged to Georgia Southern, with Tyren Moore catching fire and scoring 20 of his 34 points. The Eagles took a 40-33 lead into halftime, but Coastal Carolina adjusted their strategy and came out strong in the second half. AJ Dancler and Joshua Beadle provided significant support to Jones, scoring 20 and 18 points, respectively. Dancler also grabbed 10 rebounds, helping Coastal Carolina control the boards.
Despite Moore's valiant effort, Georgia Southern struggled to contain Coastal Carolina's balanced offense. The Eagles' Andres Burney and Spudd Webb contributed 10 and 9 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Chanticleers' scoring depth. Georgia Southern's defense allowed Coastal Carolina to shoot efficiently, particularly in the second half, where they made several crucial shots to take the lead.
The game saw several lead changes, with both teams trading baskets in a tightly contested matchup. However, Coastal Carolina's ability to score from multiple positions ultimately was the difference. The Chanticleers' victory was a reflection of their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
This matchup had real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For Georgia Southern, the loss marks a Quadrant 4 defeat, which could hurt their chances of making a strong case for an at-large bid. On the other hand, Coastal Carolina's win falls under Quadrant 3, providing a moderate boost to their resume. With both teams sporting identical 13-9 records, this victory gives Coastal Carolina a slight edge in terms of tournament prospects.
As the season progresses, Coastal Carolina want to build on this momentum, while Georgia Southern will aim to bounce back from this tough loss. The Eagles must regroup and focus on their upcoming games to strengthen their tournament resume. For now, Coastal Carolina's win serves as a notable feather in their cap, and they want to capitalize on this performance in their future matchups. With their net ranking improving to 222, Coastal Carolina has taken a step in the right direction, but they still have work to do to solidify their tournament chances.