Eagles finish strong, win 69-67 on the road

ATLANTA, Ga. - Southern Miss came back from an 11-point deficit with 12 minutes to play to shock Georgia State, 69-67, Tuesday night at the Georgia State Sports Arena.

Jerrold Brooks led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 23 points, including four three-pointers. Dwayne Davis added 12 points and five rebounds and Jonathan Mills grabbed a game-high nine boards.

Georgia State came out of the half and immediately scored on a jumper by Crider. But Brooks hit his second three of the game, cutting the lead to two. After trading baskets, the Panthers went on a 14-5 run, paced by a trio of three-pointers from Atkins to take a 52-41 lead with 12:25 to play.

However, the Golden Eagles went on a 9-2 run over the next 2:57, ended by a Brooks three-pointer, to cut the lead to 54-50. The teams then traded baskets. With GSU up 58-52, Brooks pulled down an offensive rebound, put the ball back in and got fouled, completing the three-point play to make it a three-point game.

The Panthers pushed it back to five, but Norville Carey hit a jumper to make it 60-57. After Brooks forced a turnover, he was immediately fouled, and hit both free throws to pull the Golden Eagles to within one point with 4:11 to play. Atkins hit a layup and was fouled, hitting the ensuing free throw to again make it a four-point game. But consecutive baskets by Carey tied the game at 63.

Mills was then fouled and hit both free throws, giving Southern Miss its first lead of the second half. But Brooks was whistled for a foul before the ball was inbounded, and Devonta White tied the game. After a timeout, Brooks hit his third three-pointer of the game, giving Southern Miss a 68-65 lead with 2:03 to play.

The Black and Gold held Georgia State for almost two minutes, until Crider tipped in an Atkins three-pointer attempt to make it a one-point game. After Brooks was fouled, he made one of two free throws to push the lead to two. But Crider's last ditch three-point attempt was off the mark, and Southern Miss held on for the victory.

Georgia State started things off, as R.J. Hunter hit a three-pointer. Neil Watson hit a layup off a Jerrold Brooks steal, but Hunter came back with another three. Brooks connected on a jumper, but Hunter hit his third straight three-pointer to give Georgia State a 9-4 lead just 3:44 into the game.

The teams traded baskets before Southern Miss scored two straight buckets to pull to within 14-13. However, Southern Miss went without a basket for almost five minutes as the Panthers went on a 10-3 run to take a 24-16 lead with 6:52 to play.

But the Golden Eagles battle back. Jenkins scored five straight points, followed by a three-point play by Dwayne Davis that tied the game at 24. Markus Crider connected on a pair of free throws, but Brooks drained a three-pointer from the left corner to give Southern Miss its first lead of the game, 27-26, with 2:36 to play in the half.

However, Hunter gave Georgia State the lead on a three-pointer, followed by a layup by Manny Atkins. Daveon Boardingham hit a pair of free throws, but Hunter hit his sixth three-pointer of the half. Rashard McGill closed the half with a layup for the Golden Eagles, as they trailed 34-31 at the break.

Hunter led all scorers with 24 points. White and Atkins added 13 apiece.

Southern Miss shot 50.0% (23-of-46) for the game, but was just 6-of-16 (37.5-percent) from three. Georgia State shot 44.7-percent (21-of-47) from the floor and 41.7% (10-of-24) from behind the arc. The Golden Eagles also outrebounded the Panthers, 31-to-22.

Southern Miss goes back on the road this Saturday, Dec. 22, when it faces Wichita State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.