Round One of #StateNotSouthern Saturday in Statesboro

Teams will meet again Feb. 2 at the GSU Convocation Center

GEORGIA STATE (9-10, 2-5) at GEORGIA SOUTHERN (11-9, 4-3)
Saturday, Jan. 21 | 3 p.m. | Hanner Fieldhouse, Statesboro, Ga.

WATCH: ESPN+
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THE TIPOFF: Georgia State opens its home-and-home against in-state rival Georgia Southern Saturday in Statesboro. Tipoff at Hanner Fieldhouse is 3 p.m. on ESPN+. The Panthers, who have won three straight in the series, and Eagles will meet again at the GSU Convocation Center on Feb. 2.

> One game after hitting the century mark in a 100-66 win over Coastal Carolina, the Panthers (9-10, 2-5 Sun Belt) fell 70-58 at Old Dominion Thursday.

> Led by Ja'Heim Hudson with a career-high 26 points, GSU set season-highs for points, 3-pointers (16), field goal percentage (.638) and assists (26) in the win over Coastal Carolina while holding the Chanticleers to 35 percent shooting. Hudson 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.

> Hudson averages 11.1 points on the season and leads GSU in rebounding (7.5/8th in Sun Belt) and blocked shots (19) while ranking second with 19 steals.

> Junior guard Brenden Tucker is averaging 15.1 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, and he added 12 points Thursday at Old Dominion.

> 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. 10 in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring and No. 12 in assists (3.6), has reached 20 points four times, including a career-high 27 in the win over UNC Asheville and 24 vs. Belmont. He handed out a career-high 11 assists vs. Coastal Carolina.

> The Panthers rank fifth in the Sun Belt and No. 58 in DI in scoring defense, holding their opponents to 64.6 points per game.

SERIES NOTES: Georgia State has won three in a row over Georgia Southern and holds a 12-6 lead against the Eagles during the Sun Belt era, beginning in 2014-15.

> Last season, the Panthers swept both games, 79-63 in Atlanta and 58-49 in Statesboro. Among current Panthers, Ja'Heim Hudson averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds off the bench in those two games.

> Georgia Southern leads the overall series, which goes back to 1971-72, 38-26.

> Georgia State is just 9-26 in road games in the series, but the Panthers have won the last three meetings in Statesboro, including last year's 58-49 win.

CHARITY CASE: Georgia State ranks No. 3 in the Sun Belt in free throw shooting at 74.1 percent.

> Individually, Dwon Odom (.818) is fourth in the Sun Belt, Brenden Tucker (.793) is sixth and Jamaine Mann (.742) is ninth.

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.

> Dwon Odom handed out a career-high 11 assists, the first Panther in double figures since Ryan Harrow in 2014-15.

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 (193/103) and Sun Belt newcomer Old Dominion (192 overall).

> Since 2013-14, GSU has a .648 winning percentage in all games, including a .663 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