ATLANTA-- After defeating rivals Georgia Southern at home just three days earlier, Georgia State looks to build momentum on its conference season hosting Coastal Carolina on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center.

Georgia State and Coastal Carolina are meeting for the 18th time in program history. The Panthers are 8-9 on the series after defeating the Chanticleers 72-71 at home on Feb. 21, 2024.

TV: ESPN+
RADIO: WGTJ-FM (97.5), GSU Athletics app
 

PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT

> Led by Nick McMullen, who is second in the conference and ranks 16th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers' 39.25 rebounds per-game ranks second in the Sun Belt.

> Nick McMullen is top two in the Sun Belt in every rebounding category, including total rebounds (163, leads the SBC and ranks ninth nationally), rebounds per-game (10.2, second in the SBC and ranks 16th nationally), defensive rebounds per-game (6.69, second in SBC and 17th nationally) and offensive rebounds (3.5, leads the SBC and 17th 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 Georgia State's second-leading scorer with 13.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 25 assists. 

> The veteran guard, Lane is currently sixth in the Sun Belt in three pointers per-game with 2.56. 

> The guard also ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for total 3-pointers made (6th/ 41) and three-point percentage (6th/ 29.1). 
 

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 15.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 35 assists,. 

> Nutter is fifth in the conference for free throws with 59. He is fourth in the conference for points per-game with 15.3. His 46.0 free-throw percentage is sixth in the conference.  

> Nutter led the Panthers with 22 points and six rebounds in Georgia State's win over Georgia Southern (Jan 8). Nutter hit a half-court buzzer beater at the half to tie the contest at 38. He also put up a career-high two blocks, which eh previously set at NIU. 

> Senior Cesare Edwards is third on the Panthers' leaderboard with 13.4 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 6.7 rpg. He totals 15 assists and 10 steals on the season.  

> Edwards ranks third in the conference in double-doubles after tallying four double-doubles so far. He scored his double-doubles in the Panthers' wins against Ball State (Nov. 4), Tulsa (Nov. 27), and Kennesaw State (Dec 6). His most recent double-double (20 pts, 11 rbs) came in the Panthers' overtime win over Georgia Southern. 

> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 163 rebounds so far this season, which leads the Sun Belt. His 10.2 rebounds per game is second in the Sun Belt and ranks 16th nationally. 

> McMullen averages 9.6 ppg. 

> McMullen is also second in the conference and ranks 26th nationally in double-doubles, totaling six. He grabbed his first in the Panthers' season-opner against Ball State (Nov. 4). He recorded his second against North Carolina Central (Nov. 22). Most notably, McMullen put up 22 points and 14 rebounds in the Panthers' first conference win over Louisiana (Jan. 4). 

> Sophomore transfer Malachi Brown has been a key aspect to the Panthers' offense, scoring 7.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg. He leads the team in assists with 49.   

> Iowa State Transfer Jelani Hamilton has had a breakout season with the Panthers, scoring fifth Georgia State's leaderboard with 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 18 assists and 13 steals.

Georgia State heads to Texas State on Jan. 15 and Arkansas State on Jan. 18 before returning to the GSU Convocation Center to host Marshall on Jan. 23.