STATESBORO, Ga. – Jacksonville State's road woes continued Friday evening with a tough 60-56 overtime loss to Georgia Southern inside the Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga.

The setback drops the Gamecocks to 2-6 on the season, while the Eagles improved to 2-3 with their second consecutive win of the season after dropping the first three games of the season. 

JSU held leads in the final moments of regulation and overtime but GSU was able to get the game0tying basket with 1.3 seconds left on the game clock and the eventual game-winning field goal by Angel McGowan, who led all scorers with 26 points in the contest.

In the waning moments of regulation, senior Courtney Strain converted on a three-point play after a driving lay up and connecting on a free throw to give JSU a 50-49 lead with 55 seconds left.  After a blocked shot by freshman Rayven Pearson, junior Kelly Naughton was fouled and sent to the free throw line and extended JSU's lead to 51-49.  The Eagles responded with a bucket with 1.3 ticks left on the clock by Briana Jones. 

In the extra session, GSU jumped out to the lead on a three pointer by Abby Hix and held the advantage until Jax State junior Briana Benson finished a three-point play to even the score at 55-all and give JSU its last point and lead of the contest with a free throw.  It was JSU's 38^th all-0time overtime game and the first since last season's regular season finale at Morehead State.

McGowan lifted the Eagles past the Gamecocks with a lay up with 10 seconds left in overtime.  She finished the contest 8-of-16 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.  GSU turned in a 17-of-22 night at the charity stripe, while Jax State was 16-of-24 at the line.

The Gamecocks weathered the Eagles' fast start after falling behind 9-0, they cut the deficit down to 15-9 by the end of the first quarter.  The teams nearly flip-flopped the quarter scoring as JSU out-scored GSU 16-9 and took a 25-24 lead in to the halftime break.  The Eagles tacked on 15 points in the third quarter before out-scoring JSU 9-5 in the five minute extra session.

The freshmen duo of Chloe Long and Rayven Pearson highlighted the Jax State scoring as they had flashbacks of dominating games at Hazel Green High School.  Long, who led the Gamecocks with 18 points and six rebounds before fouling out with just under four minutes left in regulation.  Pearson was one rebound shy of recording her first collegiate double-double as she pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and tacked on nine points in 46 minutes of action.  Long, who has now scored in double figures in the last three games, knocked down 6-of-11 from the field and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. 

Strain recorded nine points in 43 minutes, while Benson finished with seven off the bench.

Patrice Butler added 11 points off the bench for the Eagles.

The Gamecocks will not turn their attention to the end of the semester finals on the JSU campus next week and will return to action on Sunday, December 13, hosting NCAA Division II in-state foe Tuskegee.  Tip off is set for 1 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum.