Georgia Southern Eagles defeat Georgia State Panthers in Sun Belt clash

Eagles' scoring power proves too much for Panthers in Atlanta matchup

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Georgia Southern Eagles defeated the Georgia State Panthers 81-73 in a Sun Belt conference matchup on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at the GSU Convocation Center in Atlanta. The Eagles, led by strong performances from Tyren Moore and Spudd Webb, were able to overcome the Panthers' home court advantage and consistent free throw shooting.

Why it matters

This Sun Belt conference game was an important one for both teams as they look to position themselves for the upcoming conference tournament. The Eagles' victory on the road against their in-state rivals demonstrates their ability to win tough games away from home, while the Panthers' loss at home raises questions about their consistency and ability to protect their home court.

The details

The Eagles were led by Tyren Moore, who scored 32 points, and Spudd Webb, who added 16 points. The Panthers were paced by Malachi Brown's 25 points, but their overall shooting struggles, hitting just 38% from the field, ultimately proved too much to overcome despite their strong 78.3% free throw percentage. The Eagles' superior scoring ability, averaging 81.1 points per game compared to the Panthers' 70.5, was the difference in the game.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
  • The Eagles recently won against Marshall Thundering Herd with a score of 101-87.

The players

Tyren Moore

A key player for the Georgia Southern Eagles, averaging 14.6 points per game.

Spudd Webb

The leading scorer for the Georgia Southern Eagles, averaging 16.1 points per game.

Malachi Brown

A standout player for the Georgia State Panthers, scoring 25 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game on the road against our in-state rivals, but our guys stepped up and showed their scoring ability when it mattered most.”

— Brian Burg, Head Coach, Georgia Southern Eagles (Georgia Southern Athletics)

“We had our chances, but ultimately their scoring power was too much for us to overcome on our home court. We'll need to regroup and focus on finishing the season strong.”

— Jonas Hayes, Head Coach, Georgia State Panthers (Georgia State Athletics)

What’s next

The Georgia Southern Eagles will look to build on this road victory as they continue their Sun Belt conference schedule, while the Georgia State Panthers will aim to bounce back and protect their home court in their remaining home games.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower of the Georgia Southern Eagles, who were able to overcome the home court advantage of the Georgia State Panthers through their superior scoring ability. The result highlights the importance of strong offensive production in the competitive Sun Belt conference.