STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — In a frantic Sun Belt Conference rematch decided in the final seconds, Tyren Moore sank two critical free throws with four seconds remaining to lift Georgia Southern to an 87-84 victory over Old Dominion on Thursday night at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Eagles, who also defeated the Monarchs just 12 days prior, erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a torrid second-half offensive display to sweep the season series before a crowd of 2,864.

The game’s defining sequence, born from relentless defensive pressure, unfolded in the closing moments. With Georgia Southern clinging to an 85-84 lead, Old Dominion’s LJ Thomas drove the lane looking to take the lead, but his attempt was emphatically swatted away by Georgia Southern’s Nakavieon White. The Eagles secured the rebound, and Thomas was forced to foul Moore on the ensuing inbounds play.

Moore, a guard from Louisville, Kentucky, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to three. Old Dominion’s last-gasp attempt, a Robert Davis three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired, caromed off the rim, sealing the Eagles’ comeback.

The contest was a tale of two halves. Old Dominion, led by Robert Davis’s 20 points and Ketron Shaw’s 14, dominated the opening period. The Monarchs shot efficiently from deep, hitting 7 of 15 three-pointers before halftime, and took a 48-39 lead into the break.

Georgia Southern’s offense, however, ignited after halftime. The Eagles scored 48 second-half points, shooting 57% from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range. Their attack was spearheaded by a trio of double-figure scorers: Moore finished with 21 points, Tavarus Webb added 19, and Alden Applewhite contributed 17 points and a key steal.

The Eagles also leveraged a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 19 of 28 attempts compared to Old Dominion’s 10 of 15. Their defense, which registered six blocks, came up with pivotal stops down the stretch, including White’s late rejection and another block by Webb earlier in the half.

Old Dominion, which fell to 5-14 overall, received a strong all-around performance from LJ Thomas, who had 17 points and five assists. Despite the loss, the Monarchs were efficient offensively, posting an offensive rating of 114.9 points per 100 possessions. However, they could not contain Georgia Southern’s second-half surge, which saw the Eagles post an elite offensive rating of 122.0 for the game.

Georgia Southern improved to 13-6, using the victory to solidify its position in the Sun Belt standings. The win was characterized by resilience, as the Eagles weathered Old Dominion’s early shooting barrage and tightened their defense when it mattered most, culminating in the game-sealing block and free throws in the final ticks of the clock.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the final defensive stand. With a one-point lead and Old Dominion possessing the ball for a potential game-winning shot, Georgia Southern’s Nakavieon White rejected LJ Thomas’s driving layup attempt. This play not only preserved the lead but also led directly to the foul and Tyren Moore’s game-clinching free throws, turning away Old Dominion’s last serious threat.