HARTSVILLE, S.C..-- The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball opened its 2025-26 season in emphatic fashion Friday afternoon, rolling past Converse University 91-67 inside the DeLoach Center on the campus of Coker University. The meeting marked the first-ever contest between the two programs, and it was newcomer Amir Reaves who stole the spotlight.
Reaves delivered a game-high 26 points, showcasing remarkable efficiency at every level. He shot 7-for-10 from the field, knocked down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and went 9-for-10 at the free-throw line to lead the Hurricanes' offensive effort.
GSW also showed confidence from long range, attempting 25 three-pointers - the program's most in a game since Feb. 14, 2024, when the Canes launched 26 at USC Aiken.
The Hurricanes (1-0) turned an early 5-4 deficit into a double-digit lead in less than five minutes and never looked back. A 11-0 run featuring finishes from Deonte Williams and Amir Reaves, plus a fast break layup by JR Jacobs, pushed GSW ahead 15-5 and ignited a first-half surge that kept the visitors on their heels.
Converse (0–1) briefly trimmed the margin to five midway through the half, but the Hurricanes responded with another burst — highlighted by threes from Reaves and Keshawn Brown Jr., a pair of transition buckets by Williams, and a Rivera-to-Williams dunk - stretching the GSW lead to as many as 15. Brown Jr.'s fast break three at the 1:58 mark and a Rivera dunk moments later sent the Hurricanes into the break up 43-30.
GSW wasted no time removing any doubt in the second half.
Reaves scored in transition on the opening possession, and Williams followed with back-to-back fast break layups to push the margin to 49-31. Moments later, Williams drilled a three and Reaves buried another from deep to blow the game open at 55-34. The Hurricanes' pressure defense fueled the run, forcing turnovers and turning nearly every Converse mistake into points at the rim.
From there, GSW's depth took control. Faustin Phanor added energy off the bench with two athletic finishes, Jacobs continued to score in the paint, and the Hurricanes' transition attack remained relentless. Converse managed brief scoring spurts at the free-throw line, but never got the margin under 18 the rest of the way.
By the final horn, Georgia Southwestern had outscored Converse 48-37 in the second half and cruised to a decisive 91-67 victory.
Next Up
- The Hurricanes return to the DeLoach Center on Saturday for another first-ever meeting, this one against Ferrum College at 2 p.m.
