STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern's Mike Hughes hit a 3-pointer with 6.0 seconds left in regulation and made two free throws in overtime to clinch the game to give the Eagles an 84-79 win over the University of South Alabama men's basketball team Monday night at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Eagles remain unbeaten in the Sun Belt Conference at 3-0 and go to 10-6 overall, while the Jaguars fall to 8-8 and 1-2.

"I was really proud of our effort coming back in the first half," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "I told the team, a year ago we would have folded up on the road and gotten beat by 20 or 25, but we hung tough and kept guarding. Things were not going our way early, but we hung tough, kept fighting, and we put ourselves in a position to win the game, but we came up a play short."

South Alabama held four-point leads with less than a minute left in regulation and with 3:36 remaining in overtime but was unable to hang on.

In the final minute of the second half, USA senior Ken Williams (Houston, Texas) nailed a 3-pointer to go up 66-62, however Jake Allsmiller answered on GS's next possession to trim the lead back down to one.

Williams went to the line and went 2 for 2 for a three-point advantage with 17.5 seconds left, but after a timeout, Hughes got loose on the left wing and drained a trey for a tie game.

"One of their better players rose up and made a really good play," Graves said. "We were switching on everything and we were late to the switch and he made it, and tied the game."

In overtime, Williams converted again from behind the 3-point line to put the Jaguars ahead 75-71, but the Eagles finished the contest on a 13-4 run to pull away.

Buckets from Hughes and Shawn O'Connell, sandwiched around a pair of missed USA free throws, tied the game at 75-75, and after freshman Josh Ajayi (El Monte, Calif.) made a layup but was unable to complete the three-point play, Georgia Southern scored the next seven points, including two free throws from Hughes with 8.2 seconds on the clock for a five-point lead.

"Unfortunately it came down to us needing one more defensive stop, or we needed to step up and hit a few more free throws down the stretch," Graves noted. "That's ultimately what's frustrating, because you can control the free-throw line a little bit. I know those guys are disappointed about that."

Ajayi had 19 points and a career-best 13 rebounds for his second career double-double, and first since Nov. 18. He compiled nine of his points at the foul line and added a personal-best four assists and two steals.

Williams paced the Jags with 20 points off the bench, 14 coming after halftime.

"I felt like down the stretch Josh was able to get some baskets on the block and get to the free-throw line," Graves said. "Williams got in a really nice rhythm and made some shots."

For the Eagles, Tookie Brown led all scorers with 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the floor and six assists, and Ike Smith, the Sun Belt's leading scorer, added 23 points – on five 3-pointers – and 11 rebounds.

"Those two are obviously two of the best guards in the entire league because they can not only shoot the ball, but they can drive it and put you in positions where they get all the way to the rim or get fouled," Graves said. "They can score at all three levels and they're going to be handful this year; that's why they're off to a 3-0 start."

Hughes finished the contest with 13 points and three steals.

The Jaguars return home this weekend and face Texas State Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m.

NOTES: Georgia Southern ended a three-game losing streak to South Alabama and trails in the series 9-4… The Jaguars tied their season high with 22 turnovers, but won the turnover battle 24-22; the 24 turnovers forced are a new season best… USA had 11 assists and fall to 1-7 this season with a negative assist/turnover ratio… The Eagles shot 19 for 34 (55.9%) from the floor after halftime… USA allowed its opponent to shoot 50 percent or better in the second half for the seventh time in the last nine games… Brown's 26 points are the second-most allowed by the Jaguars this season… South Alabama shot 20 for 36 (55.6%) from the free-throw line and missed its last five attempts, all in overtime… The Jags won the bench points for the 12th time this year 37-11; the team is 8-4 on the year when doing so… The Jags missed their first 10 shots and had eight turnovers in the first 8 ½ minutes of the contest, but went on a 13-0 run after falling behind 13-2… Williams has scored 20 points or more three times in 2016-17, tied for the most on the team… Ajayi is tied for the team lead with two double-doubles… Williams has scored 18 points or more twice in the last three games… Ajayi is averaging 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds, while shooting 58.1 percent from the field in his last three outings… USA fell to 0-6 when trailing at halftime… Senior Don MuepoKelly (Fontana, Calif.) set a new career high with four steals, and freshman Herb McGee (Reserve, La.) set a new personal best with three steals, part of the team's season high 11 on the night.

The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your school's ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the #FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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