STATESBORO– Holding the final possession in the first overtime game of the season, Avantae Parker attempted a game-winning layup but was denied by Justin Abson of App. State as the Mountaineers escaped with an 85-84 win in Statesboro.
The Eagles (5-18, 5-6 Sun Belt) led by six at halftime and outshot #RV App. State (19-4, 10-1), but got the short end of the stick in a back-and-forth affair.
The team trailed 22-17 at the U-12, but a 14-2 run finished off by a jumper from the top of the key by Cam Bryant put the home team up 33-24.
Tyren Moore cashed a late three to head into the locker room up by six.
Eugene Brown III's three-ball put the Eagles up nine with 16:15 remaining, however, the Mountaineers clawed back. A 9-0 run in response tied the game at 52.
The Eagles turned around and put a 9-0 run of their own on the other side with Nate Brafford's floater making it 61-52, in which App would also respond with yet another 9-0 run.
Georgia Southern used two quick buckets, a Parker steal-and-score and a Moore three, to go up five. The visitors came right back to take a two-point lead, and Parker's lay-in with 13 seconds left forced overtime.
Parker continued to shine as the teams traded points in overtime. He hit his only three-pointer of the day to go ahead 83-80.
After the visitors tied the game, Brown made one-of-two free throws. Donovan Gregory of the Mountaineers gave them a one-point lead with four seconds left.
With the clock winding down, Parker attempted a game-winning lay-up but was swatted by Abson. Bryant attempted to back it up, but the clock expired before he did as the Mountaineers emerged with a one-point win.
The Eagles outshot App, scoring around 53 percent of the time and 41.7 percent from three, but it was a 15-28 performance from the field by the Mountaineers in the second half that allowed them to force overtime.
Moore led the Eagles with 24 points, while Parker scored a career-high 19 and grabbed nine rebounds. Brown chipped in 18 points and five rebounds.
GS will look to bounce back in its final contest out west, taking on South Alabama on Wednesday.
