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Georgia Southern Cools Off Furman 82-63
Feb. 5, 2005
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern's defense stifled the nation's second-best 3-point shooting team, defeating Furman 81-63 Saturday afternoon in Hanner Fieldhouse for its ninth straight win at home.
Terry Williams drained all five of his 3-pointers in the first half and Elton Nesbitt accounted for the other three `3s' as the Eagles converted 8-of-19 overall. Furman (12-9, 5-4) was averaging more than 10 `3s' per game, shooting at a 42.9 percent clip from beyond the arc - both numbers second-best in the nation. Georgia Southern held the Paladins to just two completions (one each half) in 13 attempts for a 15.4 completion rate. Both totals mark Furman's season-low.
Moussa Diagne scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Furman attack. Nicholas Sanders recorded his first double-double this season, 14 points/10 rebounds.
Down 4-2 early, the Eagles rattled off 10 unanswered points started by `3s' from Nesbitt and Williams. Jean Francois hit two free throws and Willie Dunn made a lay-in accounting for the spurt.
The Paladins got within eight but a 14-6 run by GS to close out the first half made it 45-29. Twice Furman cut the deficit to single digits early in the second half but each time Nesbitt came up with a momentum-killing basket.
Nesbitt joined four other Eagles in double-figures tallying 20 points, his team-leading ninth time scoring at least that many. However the SoCon's free throw percentage leader (87.7%) finished an uncharacteristic 3-of-6 at the line.
Louis Graham, getting his second straight start, added 11 points and team-leading seven boards.
Francois finished with 13 points and six rebounds while Donte Gennie hit 5-of-9 field goals for 10 points.
The Eagles shot 48% from the field, 42% from 3-point range and out-rebounded Furman 33-29 while committing just 13 turnovers. The Paladins hit their first 16 free throw attempts, finishing 19-of-21, while shooting 42.9% from the field.
Moussa Diagne scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Furman attack. Nicholas Sanders recorded his first double-double this season, 14 points/10 rebounds.
