PENSACOLA, Fla. — Eren Banks was instrumental in Georgia Southern’s 78-64 win over Southern Miss during the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The victory propels the ninth-seeded Georgia Southern team into the third round, where they will face No. 8 seed Georgia State on Thursday.
Banks contributed significantly to the Eagles’ (17-15) success by scoring 16 points, shooting 6 of 11 from the field, 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and hitting 3 of 5 free throws. Tyson Brown was also crucial for the Eagles, managing 14 points with a remarkable 7 of 10 field goal completion and securing 12 rebounds. Bradley Douglas added to the team’s effort with 14 points, going 5 of 11 from the field, 1 of 4 on three-point attempts, and achieving 3 of 4 from the free-throw line while also collecting seven rebounds.
On the opposite side, Denijay Harris led Southern Miss, the 12-seed Golden Eagles, with 14 points and two steals. Despite his efforts, the team faced defeat, marking their eighth consecutive loss and ending their season with an 11-22 record. Alfred Worrell Jr. contributed 12 points and two steals, while Christian Watson rounded out the scoring with 11 points.
The matchup indicated a dominant performance by Georgia Southern, setting up an intriguing next round against their instate rivals, Georgia State. The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will continue to heat up as teams vie for a chance at the championship.
