Jelani Hewitt scored 18 points and a layup by Willie Powers III with 1:40 remaining put Georgia Southern ahead to stay in a 68-65 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday.
Two free throws by Hewitt with 9 seconds left gave the Eagles (10-12, 8-4 Southern Conference) their final margin, and Preston Ross missed a 3-point try in the final second for the Catamounts (10-15, 4-8).
Western Carolina led 52-46 with 10:50 left, but Georgia Southern scored the next seven points to go in front 53-52. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way in a game that featured 17 lead changes.
Ben Drayton scored 14 points for the Eagles and Eric Ferguson had 13 points after being held scoreless in the first half.
Keaton Cole led the Catamounts with 17 points and Harouna Mutombo had 16.
