HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball rematch awaits Friday night when the Marshall Thundering Herd hosts the Georgia Southern Eagles at Cam Henderson Center. The Feb. 27 showdown carries significant weight for both teams’ postseason positioning. Marshall (19-11 overall) enters with a stronger record and will celebrate Senior Night, seeking to avenge a decisive 101-87 road loss to the Eagles just two weeks ago. Georgia Southern (15-14) looks to snap a two-game skid and complete a regular-season sweep that would bolster its conference tournament seeding. All eyes will be on a compelling duel between two of the league’s top performers. Georgia Southern’s Alden Applewhite is coming off a stellar 24-point, 7-rebound effort in a loss at Appalachian State last Saturday. He was instrumental in the first meeting with Marshall, scoring 14 points with four assists and three blocks in the Eagles’ victory. Marshall will counter with forward Wyatt Fricks, who is playing at an elite level. He exploded for 28 points in Tuesday’s 97-88 win over Old Dominion and dropped 27 points with five blocks in a win over South Alabama on Feb. 16. In the loss at Georgia Southern, Fricks managed 17 points in just 24 minutes, a performance the Herd will need him to surpass on home court. The Eagles’ offense, which clicked for 101 points in the first matchup, has cooled recently, failing to reach 75 points in three of their last four outings. Conversely, Marshall’s offense has been potent, scoring 94 and 97 points in two of its last three games, though its defense will be tested again by Georgia Southern’s pace. For Marshall, a win solidifies its standing ahead of the Sun Belt tournament. For Georgia Southern, a road victory would provide a crucial momentum shift and a signature win to close the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.