Louisiana-Lafayette beats Georgia Southern 68-58

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Jay Wright scored 20 points and Louisiana-Lafayette hit 12 3-pointers to beat Georgia Southern 68-58 on Saturday night. Georgia Southern

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Jay Wright scored 20 points and Louisiana-Lafayette hit 12 3-pointers to beat Georgia Southern 68-58 on Saturday night.

Georgia Southern (20-7, 13-5 Sun Belt Conference) is now tied with Georgia State and Louisiana-Monroe for first place in the conference. Louisiana-Lafayette (17-12, 11-7) is in fourth place, two games back of the leaders.

Louisiana-Lafayette led 59-49 with 7:59 to play before Georgia Southern used a 9-2 surge to pull within 61-58 with 2:47 left, but the Eagles then went on to miss their last eight shots.

Hayward Register made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points, and Shawn Long added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Jelani Hewitt scored 17 to lead Georgia Southern, which shot just 22 of 63 (35 percent), including 7 of 25 from long range (28 percent).