Georgia Southern Eagles Soar to 101-87 Upset Victory Over Marshall Thundering Herd

The Georgia Southern Eagles pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd 101-87 on February 14, 2026, at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center. This 14-point victory was a significant shock, considering Marshall's NET ranking of 138, 126 spots ahead of Georgia Southern's 264 ranking. Tyren Moore led the charge for Georgia Southern, scoring 32 points, while Marshall's Jalen Speer tallied 20 points and 6 assists. The Eagles' impressive 59-point first half set the tone for the game, as they outpaced Marshall's 42 points in the same period.

The game unfolded with Georgia Southern dominating the first half, taking a 59-42 lead into the break. The Eagles' offense was on fire, with Tyren Moore scoring 18 of his 32 points in the first half. Marshall attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, scoring 45 points, but Georgia Southern's 42 points were enough to maintain their lead. The Eagles' Spudd Webb and Jefferson Koulibaly also made significant contributions, scoring 18 and 16 points, respectively. Marshall's Wyatt Fricks and Landen Joseph added 17 points each, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles' strong performance. At one point, Georgia Southern led by as many as 20 points, making it difficult for Marshall to recover.

Tyren Moore was the standout performer for Georgia Southern, scoring 32 points on an efficient shooting night. Spudd Webb added 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Jefferson Koulibaly chipped in with 16 points. For Marshall, Jalen Speer led the way with 20 points and 6 assists, followed by Wyatt Fricks and Landen Joseph, who each scored 17 points. The top performers from both teams combined for 120 points, accounting for over 60% of the total points scored in the game. Moore's 32 points were the highest individual total of the night, and his performance earned him the top spot among all players.

Georgia Southern's 101 points were the most they've scored in a game this season, and their 59-point first half was the highest-scoring half for the team. The Eagles shot an impressive 55% from the field, including 45% from three-point range. Marshall, on the other hand, struggled with turnovers, committing 15 giveaways that led to 20 Georgia Southern points. The Eagles also outrebounded Marshall 35-30, including 10 offensive rebounds that resulted in 12 second-chance points. The 14-point margin of victory was the largest for Georgia Southern in a game against a team ranked as high as Marshall's NET ranking of 138.

The CHD Scout prediction model incorrectly forecasted a Marshall victory by 5.9 points, with a predicted score of 74-80. However, the actual result was a 14-point win for Georgia Southern, exposing a significant discrepancy between the predicted and actual outcomes. This upset victory highlights the challenges of predicting college basketball games, especially when teams with large NET ranking differences face off. The model's error was substantial, missing the mark by 19.9 points, and demonstrates the importance of considering multiple factors when making predictions.

This upset victory was a Quad 3 win for Georgia Southern, while Marshall suffered a Quad 4 loss. The Eagles' NET ranking of 264 will likely improve following this win, while Marshall's ranking of 138 may take a hit. The loss drops Marshall's record to 16-10, while Georgia Southern improves to 15-12. The resume impact of this game will be significant, as Georgia Southern adds a notable win to their portfolio, and Marshall's tournament hopes take a hit. The Eagles' Quad 3 win will be particularly valuable, as it demonstrates their ability to compete against teams with higher NET rankings.

Georgia Southern's next game is scheduled for February 17, 2026, against the Appalachian State Mountaineers, while Marshall will face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on February 18, 2026. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with Georgia Southern seeking to continue their winning streak and Marshall aiming to bounce back from this upset loss.