NCAAB Georgia Southern Eagles

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Sun Belt Conference
Past Conferences: Trans America Athletic Conference, Southern Conference
City: Statesboro, Georgia
Arena: Hanner Fieldhouse
NCAA Tournaments: 3 (1983, 1987, 1992)

Championships:

National Championships: None
Conference Titles:  7 (1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006)

Team History

Georgia Southern began play in the 1926-27 season and in several seasons the Eagles were a pretty good squad. Coach B.L. Smith took over the team in 1930 and led Georgia Southern to a 116-59 record in his time at the helm. Smith coached the Eagles through the 1941-42 season. The next four seasons were canceled due to World War II.

The Eagles returned to the court for the 1946-47 season under coach George Cuckro, who lasted just one year. He was replaced by J.B. Scearce and the Eagles became an NAIA power, competing in the NAIA Tournament in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1964 and 1966, reaching the finals in 1966 but coming up short. Scearce left after the 1966-67 season and the Eagles made the move to NCAA Division II for the 1969-70 season, advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament their first season.

The Eagles moved to Division I as an independent in 1971-72 and were up and down the next few seasons. Scearce returned for the 1977-78 season but didn’t have his former magic, going 21-48 before leaving in the middle of his third season back. Georgia Southern joined the Trans America Athletic Conference in 1979-80 and struggled its first few years but upset Little Rock in the 1982-83 conference tournament finals to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament, losing a preliminary game to Robert Morris.

The Eagles returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1987, giving second-seeded Syracuse a battle in the first round before losing 79-73. Georgia Southern received NIT invitations in 1988 and 1989 and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1992. The Eagles then saw a postseason drought that lasted until the team played in the 2006 NIT. Georgia Southern’s last postseason appearance was in 2017 when it competed in the CBI.

All-Time Records

• Points Scored

  • Chester Webb, 2,542
  • Tookie Brown, 2,290
  • Chester Curry, 2,008

• Rebounds

  • Kevin Anderson, 986
  • Kashien Latham, 940
  • Louis Graham, 908

• Assists

  • Dwayne Foreman, 588
  • Charlton Young, 530
  • Tookie Brown, 526

FAQs

How many Georgia Southern players have played in the NBA?

The Eagles have seen three players move on to the NBA. Michael Curry, who played for six teams over 12 seasons had the best career. Jeff Sanders played parts of four seasons for the Hawks, Bulls and Hornets. Perry Warbington’s NBA career was just two games for the Philadelphia 76ers.

How many nicknames have Georgia Southern teams had?

Georgia Southern teams have had three different nicknames. Georgia Southern teams were called the Blue Tide beginning in 1924 and that name stuck until World War II. The teams were then called the Professors, after the school’s purpose as a teacher’s college. A student vote in 1959 saw the current Eagles nickname selected and the name has been used ever since.

How many Georgia Southern players were drafted by NBA teams?

The Eagles have had six players drafted by NBA teams, beginning with Chester Webb, who was taken by the Syracuse Nationals in the eighth round of the 1956 draft. Jeff Sanders was the only player ever taken in the first round when he was selected 20th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1989.