ATLANTA-- After defeating Toccoa Falls 106-66 on Monday, the Panthers host North Carolina Central on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:00 p.m. 

Georgia State and NCCU are meeting for the first time in program history. 

PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT

> Led by Nick McMullen, who leads the conference and ranks 14th nationally in rpg, the Panthers lead the conference and rank 18th nationally for rebounds per game with 44.75. 

> Georgia State also ranks top ten in the Sun Belt in assist/turnover ratio (3rd/ 1.25), scoring offense (5th/ 77.5), assists per game (8th/ 13.8), fast-break points (8th/ 12.50), three-point percentage (6th/ 27.4) and free throw percentage (8th/ 67.1).  

> Three Panthers (Cesare Edwards, Zarique Nutter and Nick McMullen) scored double-doubles in the season opener against Ball State (Nov. 4) to rank second in the Sun Belt for double-doubles. 

> Nick McMullen leads the Sun Belt in almost every rebounding category, leading the conference in total rebounds (41, ranks 44th nationally), total rebounds per-game (10.3, ranks 18th nationally) and defensive rebounds per-game (8.25/ 13th nationally). 

KEY RETURNERS: In a rebuild off-season for the Panthers' basketball team, head coach Jonas Hayes retained five returners from the 2023-24 squad, including Toneari Lane, Malik Ferguson, DK Manyiel Dut, Brevyn Coleman and Aaron Oh

> The Panthers key returner Toneari Lane is the Panthers' leading scorer with 16.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg and six assists.

> The veteran guard ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for points per game (5th/ 16.5), three-pointers per-game (3rd/3.50 ), three-point percentage (8th/ 36.8) and total points (10th/ 66). 

> Lane has led the Panthers in scoring in all but two contest so far this season. 

> Lane scored a season-high 20 points and three rebounds in the Panthers' 106-66 win over Toccoa Falls (Nov. 18). 

> The Grayson, Ga., native scored a team-high 15 points in the Panthers' road contest at Mississippi State (Nov. 8). He followed up with 17 points in the Panthers' contest against Jacksonville State (Nov. 13) 

> Lane, the team's second-leading scorer last season at 13.1 ppg, led the Sun Belt in the 2023-24 season in 3-point percentage (.331) and 3-pointers per game (2.7). His 82 3-pointers are the eighth-highest season total in GSU history.

> Sophomore returnee Malik Ferguson has played in four games for the Panthers so far, scoring eight points and six rebounds.    

VETERAN TRANSFER SQUAD: Head coach Jonas Hayes and his staff have rebuilt the GSU roster with addition of seven transfers and four freshmen. 

> The transfer squad brings experienced veteran players including Justin Archer (graduate, Radford), Cesare Edwards (senior, Missouri State), Zarique Nutter (senior, Northern Illinois), Darnell Evans (senior, Caldwell Univ.) and Nick McMullen (senior, UNC-Asheville). 

> Northern Illinois transfer Zarique Nutter is the Panthers' second-leading scorer with 14.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 10 assists,. 

>  Along with two other Panthers, Nutter is second in the Sun Belt for double-doubles. 

> Nutter leads the Panthers with 3.3 assists per game, ranking top 10 overall in the Sun Belt. He also ranks top 10 in the conference in offensive rebounds (2nd/3.33), rebounds per game (10th/ 7.0) and free throws (5th/ 15). 

> Nutter put up a team-high 17 points in the Panthers contest at Jacksonville State (Nov. 13). 

> Nutter scored a double-double in the Panthers' season-opener against Ball State (Nov. 4), totaling 16 points and 12 rebounds in the 71-66 victory. 

> At NIU, nutter averaged 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last two seasons. He was the Huskies second-leading scorer last season. 

> Senior Cesare Edwards ranks third on the Panthers' leader board with 11.8 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 7.0rpg. He totals six assists and two steals on the season.  

> The forward ranks  top ten in the Sun Belt in rebounding (10th/7.0 rpg).  He also ranks ninth in the conference for field goal percentage with 47.8.  

> In the Panthers' season opening win over Ball State (Nov. 4), Edwards led the team with 17 points and 11 rebounds to score his first double-double of the season. 

> Edwards is no stranger to head coach Jonas Hayes Staff. Before transferring to Missouri State, Edwards was on the roster on the Xavier team that coach Hayes led before coming to GSU. 

> The 6-10 center played in 33 games in his single season at Missouri State, Averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing 18 minutes per game

> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 41 rebounds so far this season. His 10.3 rebounds per game leads the Sun Belt and ranks 18th nationally. 

> McMullen averages 8.5 ppg. 

> McMullen grabbed a team season-high 14 rebounds in the Panthers' contest at Jax State (Nov. 13). 

>  In the Panthers' season-opener against Ball State (Nov. 4), McMullen scored a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. 

> McMullen joins the Panthers squad after two seasons at UNC-Asheville, where he participated on the 2023-24 team who made an NCAA appearance. McMullen averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in two seasons (69 games) at UNC Asheville while shooting 57.9 percent from the field. 

> Sophomore transfer Malachi Brown has been a key aspect to the Panthers' offense, scoring 9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 11 assists. 

> Iowa State Transfer Jelani Hamilton has had a breakout season with the Panthers, scoring fourth Georgia State's leaderboard with 10.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and six steals. 

> Hamilton led the team with 32 points, seven rebound and four steals in the 106-66 win over Toccoa Falls (Nov. 18). 

Following the match-up against NCCU, Georgia State travels to Jacksonville, Fla. to participate in the Jacksonville Classic, with games against Austin Peay and Tulsa.