STATESBORO, Ga.---Chattanooga (15-10/10-5) looked like a team playing its fifth game in 10 days in falling 81-61 at Georgia Southern (17-8/10-5).  The loss, coupled with an Appalachian State overtime win at home over The Citadel, dropped the Mocs into second place in the Southern Conference North Division.

After trading baskets for much of the opening eight minutes, the Eagles went on a 17-5 run to extend its lead to 30-17 with 6:30 left in the half on a Dwayne Foreman free throw.  The Mocs cut it to four points, 33-29, on a Keyron Sheard three-pointer from the left wing, before the Eagles scored the final three points of the half to secure a 36-29 halftime advantage.  GSU hit seven from behind the arc in the half.

The Eagles got off to a quick start in the second with a 26-4 run to open the half powered early by Willie Powers with eight points, including two treys.  The Mocs first field goal came at 10:18 on a Stephen McDowell three-pointer to cut the lead to 62-36.  A Zach Ferrell three-pointer with 5:41 to go closed the gap to under 20 at 70-52.  But Chattanooga could not muster a sustained run falling by the final of 81-61. 

Nicchaeus Doaks led Chattanooga with 17 points, 12 in the second half.  McDowell added 15 as the Mocs shot just 33.3 percent (16-48) from the field and turned the ball over 27 times.

Louis Graham scored all of his team-high 17 points in the second half to pace the Eagles.  Anthony Marshall added 16 off the bench hitting four-of-seven from behind the arc.  GSU was 11-for-24 on the night from long range.

The Mocs are off until Thursday, Feb. 14, when they open the Charleston, S.C., swing with a 7 p.m. matchup at the College of Charleston.

NOTES

Kevin Bridgewaters turned his ankle during shoot-around earlier in the day.  He was still in the starting lineup.

Nicchaeus Doaks has scored in double figures in 11 straight games.

Stephen McDowell extended a streak of 13 games with 32 or more minutes, which coincides with a double-digit scoring streak of his own.