Panthers Hit the Road, Look to Build on Momentum

GEORGIA STATE (9-9, 2-4) at OLD DOMINION (10-8, 2-4)
Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7 p.m. | Chartway Arena, Norfolk, Va.

WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN: Georgia State Radio Network on WRAS-FM 88.5 and the GSU Athletics mobile app.

THE TIPOFF: Looking to build on its best and most complete effort of the season, Georgia State begins a four-game road stretch Thursday at Old Dominion. Tipoff at Chartway Arena is 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

> The Panthers (9-9, 2-4 Sun Belt) are coming off a 100-66 victory over Coastal Carolina. GSU set season-highs for points, 3-pointers (16), field goal percentage (.638) and assists (26) while holding the Chanticleers to 35 percent shooting.

> Old Dominion (10-8) is also 2-4 in Sun Belt play after falling 73-65 at Marshall Saturday.

> Five players scored in double figures against Coastal Carolina, led by Ja'Heim Hudson with a career-high 26 points. The sophomore forward went 9-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and also had five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

> Junior guard Brenden Tucker is averaging 15.7 ppg in Sun Belt play, including two 20-point games. He recorded season highs with 25 points and six rebounds at ULM, including 10-of-13 free throws. Last week, Tucker scored 21 points vs. Troy and 19 vs. Coastal Carolina.

> Sophomore guard Dwon Odom leads the Panthers in scoring (14.5 ppg), assists (65) and steals (21) while ranking second on the team in rebounding (4.9 pg) and blocked shots (14).

> Odom, No. 8 in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring and assists (3.6), has reached 20 points four times, including a career-high 27 in the win over UNC Asheville and 24 vs. Belmont.

> Hudson averages 11.1 points on the season and leads GSU in rebounding (7.3/10th in Sun Belt) and blocked shots (19).

> The Panthers rank fifth in the Sun Belt and No. 53 in DI in scoring defense, holding their opponents to 64.3 points per game. GSU limited James Madison, the nation's top scoring team at the time, to 63 points its Sun Belt opener.

SERIES NOTES: Georgia State has won four of the last six meetings, but Old Dominion leads the overall series 17-6.

> The Monarchs won the last meeting, 58-46 on Dec. 18, 2016 at Norfolk, Va., while GSU won the previous year, 68-64 in Atlanta on Dec. 12, 2015.

> The teams played at least once a year from 2005-06 through 2016-17. For the first eight years of that stretch, both programs were members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

> When Georgia State and Old Dominion first met in 1976-77, the schools were members of the Sun Belt Conference. ODU won three of the four meetings in that era, from 1976-77 through 1980-81 for Georgia State.

CHARITY CASE: Georgia State ranks No. 2 in the Sun Belt and No. 49 in Division I in free throw shooting at 74.8 percent.

> Individually, Dwon Odom (.818) is fourth in the Sun Belt, Brenden Tucker (.807) is fifth and Jamaine Mann (.750) is seventh. Odom ranks sixth in the league in free throws made.

CENTURY MARK: Georgia State set numerous milestones in its 100-66 win over Coastal Carolina:

> Season highs for points (100), field goal percentage (.638), 3-pointers (16) and assists (26 on 37 baskets).

> Georgia State's highest field goal percentage ever vs. a Sun Belt team.

> Fourth-highest point total and third-largest margin of victory (36) vs. Sun Belt team.

> Second-most 3-pointers vs. Sun Belt team.

> Five players in double figures: Ja'Heim Hudson, career-high 26 points; Brenden Tucker, 19; Dwon Odom, 16; Jamaine Mann, 16; Kalik Brooks, 10.

IN THE LONG RUN: Georgia State helped itself with large scoring runs in wins over South Alabama and Coastal Carolina:

> In their 68-58 win over South Alabama, the Panthers rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the first half with an 18-0 scoring run that extended into the second half.

> GSU scored 17 straight points late in the first half against Coastal Carolina to build a 20-point halftime lead en route to the 100-66 victory.

SHINING IN THE SUN BELT: Since returning to the Sun Belt Conference for the 2013-14 season, Georgia State has been the league's most successful program:

> GSU has won four Sun Belt Tournament titles since 2014 (2015, 1018, 2019, 2022). No other program has more than one in that time.

> Georgia State has finished first or second in the league standings in six of the last nine years, including regular-season titles in 2014, 2015 and 2019 and the East Division crown in 2021.

> The Panthers lead all Sun Belt teams in overall wins (196) and conference wins (109) in that time, ahead of Louisiana (192/102) and Sun Belt newcomer Old Dominion (191 overall).

> Since 2013-14, GSU has a .649 winning percentage in all games, including a .664 mark in Sun Belt contests.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Kalik Brooks: G; 6' 5"; Freshman

#15 Ja'Heim Hudson: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

#1 Dwon Odom: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#5 Brenden Tucker: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#2 Jamaine Mann: G; 6' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#21 Kalik Brooks
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: G

#15 Ja'Heim Hudson
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Dwon Odom
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Brenden Tucker
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#2 Jamaine Mann
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: G