PENSACOLA, Fla. — Eren Banks showcased his skills by scoring 16 points, propelling Georgia Southern to a 78-64 win over Southern Miss during the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday.
The victory enables the ninth-seeded Georgia Southern to advance to face No. 8 seed Georgia State in the tournament’s third round on Thursday.
In a standout performance for the Eagles (17-15), Banks made an impressive 6 out of 11 shots, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc, and converted 3 of 5 attempts from the free-throw line.
Tyson Brown also made significant contributions, scoring 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field, along with pulling down 12 rebounds.
Bradley Douglas added to the team’s effort with 14 points, shooting 5 for 11 (1 for 4 on three-pointers) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line, plus securing seven rebounds.
For the 12-seed Southern Miss (11-22), Denijay Harris led their effort with 14 points and two steals.
Alfred Worrell Jr. chipped in with 12 points and two steals, while Christian Watson registered 11 points.
This defeat marks the Golden Eagles’ eighth consecutive loss, concluding their tournament journey for the season.
