What You Need to Know:
* Georgia State opened the regular season with a 73-54 win over Middle Georgia State on Friday night.
* Senior Kevin Ware led the Panthers with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win.
* Before the game, Georgia State debuted a pair of new banners in the GSU Sports Arena to commemorate the Sun Belt title and NCAA appearance from the 2014-15 season.
ATLANTA-Led by 14 points from senior Kevin Ware, Georgia State cruised to a 73-54 win over Middle Georgia State on Friday night in the regular season opener at the GSU Sports Arena.
Ware finished 6-of-12 from the floor and added six rebounds and three assists. Redshirt-junior Jeremy Hollowell, making his Georgia State debut, finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five steals as the Panthers forced 20 turnovers.
Georgia State opened the season 1-0 for the third-straight season and are now 5-0 in regular season home openers under head coach Ron Hunter. Georgia State improved to 48-13 since Dec. 14, 2013 and have won 26 of its last 27 at home. The Panthers have won eight-straight at home dating back to last year, tied for the fourth-longest in school history.
“I thought Middle Georgia State did some really nice things tonight that made it tough on us,” Hunter said. “With all of the new guys, I keep telling myself that I am going to have to be more patient this year. I thought we took a lot of good shots that just didn't fall tonight, but those will come. It is just part of the process.”
Redshirt-sophomore Isaiah Williams provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while junior Isaiah Dennis added eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
Middle Georgia State scored the first basket of the game before the Panthers responded with an 8-0 run. It was the Knights only lead of the game.
Trailing by 18 midway through the first half, the Knights used a 10-2 run to cut Georgia State's lead to 33-23 with just over two minutes to play. Middle Georgia State would get as close as nine (40-31) with just under 18 minutes to play in the game before the Panthers pulled away.
Georgia State used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to push its lead to 57-38 with 11:22 to play and led by as many as 23 with 5:37 remaining.
Kieston Standfield led Middle Georgia State with nine points and 10 rebounds. Although no Knight scored in double figures, four finished with nine points.
Seniors Markus Crider and T.J. Shipes each played in their 100th career games, just 26 shy of the school record. Crider finished with four points and six rebounds, while Shipes added two points.
Sophomore Jordan Session came off the bench to score seven points on 3-of-3 field goals.
Georgia State held Middle Georgia State to just 1-of-16 from 3-point range and 33.3 percent shooting from the floor.
Georgia State will stay continue its early season home-stand facing Emmanuel College next Thursday night at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 404-413-4020 or by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com.
