Week 16 Men's Basketball Preview: Georgia State

Georgia State is in the midst of a six-game losing streak, their second of the season, after a two-game road trip yielded no success and resulted in them slipping lower in the conference standings. Out of these six games during the losing streak, three of them have been decided by one score and two have been blowouts. Since Jonas Hayes took over as Head Coach in 2022, the team has gone on a six (or more) game losing streak five times and averages at least one per season. The Panthers will now finish out their season with four straight home games and seek to improve their seeding in the postseason.

Georgia State has struggled from the field this season, hitting on just 38% of shots from the field. Inconsistent shooting has been a major factor for the Panthers as of late, with their most recent loss coming on a missed layup as time expired in overtime. Despite this, the team still sits on top of the conference and 11th in all of Division I in the free-throw category with a free-throw percentage of 78%.

Freshman guard Micah Tucker continues to be a huge contributor to the Panthers, scoring 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in the loss to James Madison. Tucker did not get into the last game against ODU, but is averaging almost 13 PPG this season. Sophomore guard Jalani Hamilton currently sits third in the Sun Belt for scoring, averaging 18 PPG and 4 REB.

Georgia State vs Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern handily beat their cross-state rival earlier in the season with a 90-67 score and handed the Panthers their first conference loss of the year. Despite this, the Eagles have struggled in conference play this season, holding a 7-7 record in Sun Belt play and sitting tied for 7th with Arkansas State.

Georgia Southern has been consistently productive in the offensive category all season long, ranking at 3rd in the Sun Belt Conference and 75th in all of Division I for points-per-game with 81. At the heart of the scoring production is senior guard Spudd Webb, who has no relation to the 1986 NBA Dunk Contest winner Spud Webb, averaging 16 PPG and shooting 52% from the field.

On the flip side, the Eagles have struggled on the defensive side of the ball and sit second to last in the conference by allowing an average of almost 80 points per game. Despite the defensive scoring woes, the team forces an average of 13.9 turnovers per game and has a turnover margin of 3.22, which puts them 30th in all of Division I.

Georgia Southern is seeking to win back-to-back games against Georgia State for the first time since the 2016-2017 season and close the gap on the Panthers 23-19 lead in the all-time series.

Tipoff: Thursday Feb 19th at 8:00 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN+

Radio: WRAS-FM 88.5 (TuneIn)

Georgia State vs James Madison

James Madison rolls into Atlanta just a little over a week since beating Georgia State 81-79 in an overtime thriller. The Dukes victory moved them to 6-8 in Sun Belt play and moved them up in the conference standings despite it being a 3-way tie for 10th place between them, Georgia State and Louisiana.

The Dukes have been efficient from three this season against conference opponents, shooting 35% from beyond the arc as a team and placing them at 2nd in the conference for three-point percentage. The lead sharpshooter title for the Dukes belongs to guard Cliff Davis, the senior is averaging 13.9 PPG with a 38% three-point percentage that ranks him at 2nd in the conference and 73rd in all of Division I.

James Madison has been middle of the pack when it comes to scoring defense, allowing the 8th most points-per-game in the Sun Belt with 74.6 but coming in dead last for turnovers per game with 8.9 and a -2.81 turnover margin. The Dukes have been pesky in the paint however, averaging 4.52 blocks per game corralling an average of 36.6 rebounds per game.

James Madison is looking for an eighth straight win against Georgia State, while the Panthers are looking to avoid losing their seventh straight game and defeat the Dukes for the first time since the 2012-2013 season.

Tipoff: Saturday Feb 21. at 4:00 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN+

Radio: Glory 97.5 WGJT-FM (TuneIn)

Click here for information on tickets. Georgia State fans can also contact the ticket office at (404)-413-4020 or email the ticket office at tickets@gsu.edu