PENSACOLA, Fla. (Interstat) — Tyren Moore scored 25 points, including a critical late 3-pointer, and Georgia Southern weathered a furious second-half rally by Arkansas State to secure an 80-77 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the UWF Field House.

The Eagles built a commanding 42-34 halftime lead behind efficient offense and disruptive defense but watched it evaporate completely as the Red Wolves unleashed a 27-12 run to open the second period. Arkansas State took its first lead of the game, 61-60, on a Jaxon Ellingsworth layup with 10:14 remaining and extended it to 75-70 on a Chandler Jackson layup with just 1:39 left, putting Georgia Southern on the brink.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 100 seconds. After a Matt Hayman personal foul sent Tavarus Webb to the line, the Georgia Southern guard sank both free throws to cut the deficit to 75-72. On the ensuing Arkansas State possession, the Eagles’ defense forced a difficult 3-point attempt from Hayman that missed, and Moore secured the defensive rebound.

Out of a timeout, Georgia Southern executed its play perfectly. Shainen Carter found Moore curling off a screen beyond the arc, and the Louisville, Kentucky, native drained a deep 3-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 1:14 remaining. Arkansas State’s next trip downcourt resulted in a missed 3-pointer by Christian Harmon, and Aly Tounkara’s tip-in attempt also failed, giving the Eagles the ball back with 43 seconds left.

Webb was fouled again on a drive and made both free throws to put Georgia Southern ahead 77-75. The Red Wolves answered immediately, with Tounkara grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring a putback to knot the game at 77 with 20 seconds on the clock.

With the game in the balance, Georgia Southern put the ball in Moore’s hands. The 5-foot-11 guard drove into the lane, drew contact, and missed a contested shot, but Nakavieon White secured a crucial offensive rebound and was fouled with 7 seconds left. White made the first free throw to give the Eagles a 78-77 lead but missed the second. Hayman grabbed the rebound for Arkansas State, setting up a final chance.

On the inbounds play, Arkansas State’s Chandler Jackson, who had orchestrated much of the second-half comeback, was trapped near midcourt. White stripped the ball, was fouled, and calmly sank both free throws with 5 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 80-77. Arkansas State’s desperation heave from Hayman as time expired was off the mark, sealing the Georgia Southern victory.

Moore’s 25 points led all scorers and continued his strong late-season form. Alden Applewhite added 16 points for the Eagles, while Webb contributed 10, all from the free-throw line in the second half. Tsvet Sotirov provided a significant spark off the bench with 11 points, all in the first half, helping build the early cushion.

Arkansas State was led by a 21-point performance from Matt Hayman of Delhi, Louisiana, and an 18-point effort from Jaxon Ellingsworth. Chandler Jackson, the Red Wolves’ floor general from Memphis, Tennessee, posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists but committed a costly turnover on the final meaningful possession.

The game was a tale of two halves. Georgia Southern shot effectively early and forced 10 first-half turnovers to build its lead. Arkansas State responded after the break, shooting 50% from the field and dominating the paint to storm back, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

The win improved Georgia Southern to 18-15 overall. Arkansas State, which had defeated the Eagles by 17 points in Statesboro just over six weeks ago, fell to 20-12. An announced crowd of 1,374 watched the contest.

The victory avenges Georgia Southern’s loss to Arkansas State earlier in the conference schedule and provides momentum as the teams head into the postseason. The Eagles’ ability to execute under pressure in the final minutes, led by Moore’s scoring and key plays from role players like White and Webb, proved the difference in a game that swung decisively in the final moments.