ATLANTA-- After a week-long, three game road series, the Panthers return to the Convocation Center to host the I-75 challenge against Kennesaw State on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN+
Radio: WRAS-FM 88.5, GSU athletics app.

Georgia State and Kennesaw State are meeting for the fifth time in program history. The Panthers are 3-1 on the series after falling 88-77 on the road to the Owls on Dec. 2, 2023. 
 

PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT

> Led by Nick McMullen, who leads the conference and ranks 13th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers rank fourth overall in the Sun Belt and top 100 nationally in rebounds per game with 39.25. 

> Georgia State also ranks top ten in the Sun Belt in three-point percentage (3rd/ 36.2) assists (9th/ 12.4pg), scoring offense (6th/ 75.4), fastbreak points (9th/ 10.13) and free throw percentage (8th/ 68.3).  

> Nick McMullen leads the Sun Belt in almost every rebounding category, leading the conference in total rebounds (81, ranks 10th nationally), total rebounds per-game (10.1, ranks 13th nationally) and defensive rebounds per-game (7.88/ 8th 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 Dut, Brevyn Coleman and Aaron Oh

> The Panthers key returner Toneari Lane is the Panthers' second-leading scorer with 14.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg and nine assists.

> The veteran guard ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for points per game (7th/ 14.5), three-pointers per-game (3rd/3.0), three-point percentage (6th/ 36.9) and total points (9th/ 116). 

> Lane set a career-high three steals against Austin Peay (Nov. 26). 

> 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 Jacksonville State (Nov. 8). He followed up with 17 points in the Panthers' contest against Jax State (Nov. 13) 

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 17.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 18 assists,. 

> Nutter leads the conference and is 30th in the nation for free throws with 38. He is also second in the Sun Belt for double-doubles with two. 

> Nutter also ranks top 10 in the conference for points per game (2nd/ 17.4), double-doubles (7th/ 1) and field goal percentage (10th/ 45.6).

> Nutter matched his career-high 6 assists against Ball State (Nov. 4), which he set at Northern Illinois in 2023. 

> Nutter put up a team-high 17 points in the Panthers contest at Jax 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' leaderboard with 12.3 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 7.1 rpg. He totals 10 assists and four steals on the season.  

> Edwards ranks second in the conference after tallying two double-doubles so far. He scored his double-doubles in the Panthers' wins against Ball State (Nov. 4) and Tulsa (Nov. 27). 

> The forward ranks  top ten in the Sun Belt in rebounding (5th/7.1 rpg), blocks (6th/ 8), field goal percentage (5th/ 50.0) and rebounds per game (5th/ 7.1).  

> 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 participated 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 81 rebounds so far this season. His 10.1 rebounds per game leads the Sun Belt and ranks 13th nationally. 

> McMullen averages 9.6 ppg. 

> McMullen leads the conference and ranks 29th nationally in double-doubles, totaling three. He grabbed his first in the Panthers' season-opner 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). 

> He recorded 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. 

Following the contest against Kennesaw State, The Panthers host Charlotte on Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m..