ATLANTA, GA --Mikyla Tolivert and Deasia Merrill combined to score 29 total points, but ultimately fell 56-48 to Bethune-Cookman at home Wednesday.
Tolivert led the Panthers (3-1) with 17 points and seven rebounds. Merrill added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Crystal Henderson helped out with six points.
Merrill pulled down four offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Georgia State, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into 11 second-chance points.
The Georgia State defense held Bethune-Cookman shooters to only 27.4 percent from the field, including 25 percent from three-point range. The Panthers also kept Chanel Wilson to 0-of-13 shooting and 10 points in the game.
How It Happened
Georgia State kept it close in the first quarter but entered the second frame down 14-12.
Georgia State kept the Wildcats from increasing their lead before going on a 5-0 run to take a 19-16 lead. The Wildcats then came roaring back to take a 25-22 lead heading into halftime.
Georgia State came out of halftime on fire, going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Tolivert, to grab a 30-25 lead with 7:15 to go in the third. The Panthers held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 36-31 edge. Georgia State played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 14 points in the paint.
Bethune-Cookman then erased the Georgia State lead in the game's final quarter for a 56-48 comeback victory. Georgia State took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Merrill notched a double-double for the Panthers with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
» The Panthers held the Wildcats to only 27.4 percent shooting from the field.
» Tolivert and Merrill carried the load for the Panthers, accounting for 60 percent of their points.
» The Georgia State defense forced 19 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying seven blocks as a team.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Mikyla Tolivert led the Panthers with a game-high 17 points.
» Georgia State got a game-high 12 rebounds from Merrill.
The Panthers return to the Convocation Center on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. to face Elon for the second day of the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament.
