Hot-shot youngsters lead Georgia Southern past UTA 82-73

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Three underclassmen -- Tookie Brown, Mike Hughes and Ike Smith -- teamed up to score 69 points as Georgia Southern defeated Texas-Arlington 82-73 on Thursday night, avenging an earlier loss in conference.

With 26 points, Brown, a high-scoring freshman, has reached double figures in 20 of 21 games this season, breaking 20 points seven times. The sophomore Hughes added 23 points, one off his career best. Smith, a freshman, reached 20 points for the third time.

Georgia Southern (9-12, 5-6 Sun Belt) opened the second half on a 16-4 run to erase a seven-point Texas-Arlington advantage and take control of the game.

The lost was the fourth in a row for Texas-Arlington (14-7, 5-5). Jalen Jones led the Mavericks with a career-high 24 points and Kaelon Wilson added 19 with 11 rebounds.

Georgia Southern made 12 of 30 3-point shots -- nine in the turnaround second half -- Hughes draining four, Smith and Brown three each.