ATLANTA-- Georgia State returns home to face its last non-conference competitor Mercer on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Georgia State and Mercer are meeting for the 45th time in program history. The Panthers are 33-11 in the series against the Bears.
PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT
> Led by Nick McMullen, who leads the conference and ranks 12th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers rank seventh overall in the Sun Belt in rebounds per game with 38.08.
> Nick McMullen leads the Sun Belt in almost every rebounding category, leading the conference in total rebounds (121, ranks 14th nationally) and rebounds per-game (10.1, ranks 14th nationally). He is second in the conference and 18th nationally for defensive rebounds per-game, averaging 6.92. He is also second in the conference for offensive rebounds with 3.17.
> The Panthers also have two other athletes who lead the conference in their respective categories. Toneari Lane leads the conference in minutes per game (34:23), while Zarique Nutter is second in the Sun Belt for free throws with 54.
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 Dut, Brevyn Coleman and Aaron Oh
> The Panthers key returner Toneari Lane is the Panthers' second-leading scorer with 13.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 14 assists.
> The Veteran Guard is fourth in the Sun Belt in three pointers per-game with 2.58.
> The guard also ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for total 3-pointers made (5th/ 31) and three-point percentage (6th/ 29.8).
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) and Nick McMullen (senior, UNC-Asheville).
> Northern Illinois transfer Zarique Nutter is the Panthers' leading scorer with 15.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 26 assists,.
> Nutter is second in the conference for free throws with 54. He is also seventh in the conference for total points with 173, and third for points per-game with 15.7.
> Senior Cesare Edwards is third on the Panthers' leaderboard with 11.8 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 6.8 rpg. He totals 13 assists and seven steals on the season.
> Edwards ranks third in the conference after tallying three double-doubles so far. He scored his double-doubles in the Panthers' wins against Ball State (Nov. 4) and Tulsa (Nov. 27). His most recent double-double came in the Panthers' contest against Kennesaw State (Dec. 6).
> The forward ranks top ten in the Sun Belt in rebounding (8th/6.8 rpg)and blocks (9th/ 0.92 pg).
> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 121 rebounds so far this season. His 10.1 rebounds per game leads the Sun Belt and ranks 14th nationally.
> McMullen averages 11.8 ppg.
> McMullen leads the conference and ranks 21st nationally in double-doubles, totaling five. He grabbed his first in the Panthers' season-opener against Ball State (Nov. 4). He recorded his second against North Carolina Central (Nov. 22). His third came in the Panthers' win against Tulsa (Nov. 27). His third happened in the Panthers Contest against Kennesaw State (Dec. 6), when the forward put up 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Georgia State returns to conference play hosting South Alabama on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center.
