Game action during Game Two of the Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship between Georgia State and Texas State at Pensacola Bay Center on February 28, 2023 in Pensacola, Florida. (Photograph by AJ Henderson / Sun Belt Conference)

Georgia St. GSU 10-21,3-15 Sun Belt

Texas St. TXST 14-18,6-12 Sun Belt

Georgia St. GSU

10-21,3-15 Sun Belt

Final

Feb. 28, 2023

Texas St. TXST

14-18,6-12 Sun Belt

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Georgia St. GSU	31	45	76
Texas St. TXST	41	40	81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/1/2023 12:32:00 AM

Moore Scores 25 But Panthers Fall in Sun Belt Tourney

PENSACOLA, FLA -- Collin Moore scored 25 points, but No. 14 seed Georgia State fell to No. 10 Texas State 81-76 in the first round of the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Basketbal Championship at the Pensacola Bay Center.

Georgia State ends its season with a record of 10-21.

Moore, the sophomore guard, hit six field goals, including two 3-pointers, and went 11-for-12 from the free throw line.

Dwon Odom added 18 points, while Brenden Tucker and Kaleb Scott scored 10 each.

After falling behind 41-31 at the half, the Panthers battled throughout the second half, and a bucket by Kaleb Scott pulled GSU within four points at 61-57 with seven minutes left.

The Panthers continued to hang around, and a layup by Odom again cut the deficit to four points at 67-63 with four minutes to play, but GSU could get no closer.

Texas State shot 52 percent from the field and went 24-for-28 from the free throw line.

"I would like to give a boatload of credit to Texas State," first-year head coach Jonas Hayes said. "They are tough and well-coached. They are really hard to play."

"I thought our guys played really well in spurts, and I'm really excited about our effort," Hayes continued. "That's one thing about this year's team is that we've had quite a bit of adversity, but our guys never found it in their souls to give up or give in. That's something we can build on. We don't believe in moral victories at Georgia State; they do not exist. But we'll move forward and get better."

Moore, who missed the first 18 games of the season due to injury, averaged 14.2 points in his 13 games to lead the team in scoring.

"I'm proud of this young fellow next to me," Hayes said of Moore. "After not playing all season, he really rounded into form, and he's getting ready to start playing his best basketball. So we may have to go right back to practice on Wednesday."

Hayes wrapped up his post-game press conference by saying "We will never forget how this feels. We don't ever want to have a repeat of this feeling we have right now.

"It's 10:12 right now," he said, looking at his watch. "Our next season starts at 10:13 p.m. tonight."

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