Georgia Southern rallies late, beats South Alabama 80-74

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) Jelani Hewitt scored 22 points to lead five players in double figures as Georgia Southern made 9 of 10 foul shots in the last 35 seconds to hold off South Alabama 80-74 on Saturday night.

Angel Matias converted a three-point play and Hewitt followed with a 3-pointer as Georgia Southern (19-6, 12-4 Sun Belt) snatched a late lead away from South Alabama (9-19, 7-10).

The Jaguars' Abdul Lewis scored on a layup to grab a 58-57 lead with seven minutes left, but Matias answered with a layup and sank the bonus after being fouled. Hewitt drained his third 3-pointer after a Mike Hughes steal and Trent Wiedeman hit a jumper as Georgia Southern built a 65-58 lead in less than two minutes.

Ken Williams led South Alabama with 18 points and Lewis added 17 with a career-high 13 rebounds.

Hughes scored 13 for Georgia Southern and Matias, Wiedeman and Curtis Diamond each scored 11.