STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — Tyren Moore scored 21 points and Georgia Southern overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to edge Old Dominion 87-84 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Monarchs led 48-39 at halftime, but the Eagles surged with a 48-point second half. Alden Applewhite added 17 points and Tavarus Webb scored 19 for Georgia Southern, which improved to 13-6. Robert Davis led Old Dominion with 20 points and LJ Thomas scored 17. The Monarchs fell to 5-14 despite shooting 46.2% from the field. Georgia Southern shot 50% and made 19 free throws to Old Dominion’s 10. A crowd of 2,864 watched the Eagles sweep the season series.

STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — In a frantic Sun Belt Conference rematch decided in the final seconds, Tyren Moore sank two critical free throws with four seconds remaining to lift Georgia Southern to an 87-84 victory over Old Dominion on Thursday night at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Eagles, who also defeated the Monarchs just 12 days prior, erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a torrid second-half offensive display to sweep the season series before a crowd of 2,864. The game’s defining sequence, born from relentless defensive pressure, unfolded in the closing moments. With Georgia Southern clinging to an 85-84 lead, Old Dominion’s LJ Thomas drove the lane looking to take the lead, but his attempt was emphatically swatted away by Georgia Southern’s Nakavieon White. The Eagles secured the rebound, and Thomas was forced to foul Moore on the ensuing inbounds play. Moore, a guard from Louisville, Kentucky, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to three. Old Dominion’s last-gasp attempt, a Robert Davis three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired, caromed off the rim, sealing the Eagles’ comeback. The contest was a tale of two halves. Old Dominion, led by Robert Davis’s 20 points and Ketron Shaw’s 14, dominated the opening period. The Monarchs shot efficiently from deep, hitting 7 of 15 three-pointers before halftime, and took a 48-39 lead into the break. Georgia Southern’s offense, however, ignited after halftime. The Eagles scored 48 second-half points, shooting 57% from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range. Their attack was spearheaded by a trio of double-figure scorers: Moore finished with 21 points, Tavarus Webb added 19, and Alden Applewhite contributed 17 points and a key steal. The Eagles also leveraged a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 19 of 28 attempts compared to Old Dominion’s 10 of 15. Their defense, which registered six blocks, came up with pivotal stops down the stretch, including White’s late rejection and another block by Webb earlier in the half. Old Dominion, which fell to 5-14 overall, received a strong all-around performance from LJ Thomas, who had 17 points and five assists. Despite the loss, the Monarchs were efficient offensively, posting an offensive rating of 114.9 points per 100 possessions. However, they could not contain Georgia Southern’s second-half surge, which saw the Eagles post an elite offensive rating of 122.0 for the game. Georgia Southern improved to 13-6, using the victory to solidify its position in the Sun Belt standings. The win was characterized by resilience, as the Eagles weathered Old Dominion’s early shooting barrage and tightened their defense when it mattered most, culminating in the game-sealing block and free throws in the final ticks of the clock. The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the final defensive stand. With a one-point lead and Old Dominion possessing the ball for a potential game-winning shot, Georgia Southern’s Nakavieon White rejected LJ Thomas’s driving layup attempt. This play not only preserved the lead but also led directly to the foul and Tyren Moore’s game-clinching free throws, turning away Old Dominion’s last serious threat.

Preview: Old Dominion Visits Georgia Southern in Sun Belt Rematch STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — A quick rematch awaits in Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball Thursday when Georgia Southern hosts Old Dominion at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Eagles (12-6, 2-1 Sun Belt) edged the Monarchs (5-13, 1-2) 93-86 in Norfolk just 12 days prior, on Jan. 3. That victory is part of a strong start for Georgia Southern, which sits in the upper tier of the conference standings. Old Dominion, meanwhile, looks to reverse its fortunes after a 69-70 heartbreaker at James Madison last Saturday. Georgia Southern’s Tavarus Webb, who scored 16 points in the first meeting, is a key figure. The guard is averaging 18.2 points over his last five games, including a 22-point performance in an overtime win at Coastal Carolina on Jan. 1. He followed that with 15 points and six rebounds in a road loss at South Alabama last time out. Old Dominion will counter with guard Ketron Shaw, who torched the Eagles for 23 points in the previous matchup. Shaw has been a consistent bright spot, scoring in double figures in seven straight games and averaging 18.1 points during that stretch. He posted 18 points in the narrow loss at James Madison. The Monarchs have shown flashes, including a road win at Coastal Carolina on Jan. 8, but have struggled to close games, with five of their 13 losses by six points or fewer. Georgia Southern has been strong at home, boasting a 7-1 record at Hanner Fieldhouse this season, including a 90-67 rout of rival Georgia State last month. Thursday’s contest is the first of two straight home games for the Eagles, who face Coastal Carolina on Saturday. Old Dominion continues a road swing at Appalachian State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.