ATLANTA-- After going on a 3-0 run in conference play, Georgia State heads to Texas State on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Georgia State and Texas State are meeting for the 18th time in program history. The Panthers are 11-6 on the series after falling 59-68 to the Bobcats at home on Feb. 24, 2024.
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PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT
> Led by Nick McMullen, who is second in the conference and ranks 18th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers' 39.12 rebounds per-game ranks third in the Sun Belt and ranks to 50 nationally.
> Nick McMullen is second in the Sun Belt in every rebounding category, including total rebounds (169, ranks 13th nationally), rebounds per-game (9.9, ranks 18th nationally), defensive rebounds per-game (6.41, ranks 36th nationally) and offensive rebounds (3.53, ranks 18th 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 13.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 26 assists.
> The Veteran Guard is sixth in the Sun Belt in three pointers per-game with 2.59.
> The guard also ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for total 3-pointers made (5th/ 44) and three-point percentage (7th/ 29.9).
> Lane scored eight free-throws in the Panthers win over Georgia Southern (Jan. 8) to match his career high free-throes, which he previously set against Little Rock during the 2023-24 season.
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 15.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 38 assists,.
> Nutter is fourth in the conference for free throws with 65.
> Nutter led Georgia State in its 79-74 win over Texas State with 23 points to match his career-high, which he previously set during the 2023-24 season at NIU.
> 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 13.5 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 6.8 rpg. He totals 16 assists and 11 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) and Tulsa (Nov. 27). His most recent double-double came in the Panthers' contest against Kennesaw State (Dec. 6).
>Edwards notched a career-high eight field-goals made in the Panthers' win over Louisiana (Jan. 4).
> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 169 rebounds so far this season, which is second in the Sun Belt. His 9.9 rebounds per game is also second in the Sun Belt and ranks 16th nationally.
> McMullen averages 9.7 ppg.
> McMullen is also second in the conference and ranks 31st nationally in double-doubles, totaling six. He grabbed his first in the Panthers' season-opener 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).
> McMullen notched a career-high 22 points in the Panthers' win over Louisiana (Jan. 4).
> Sophomore transfer Malachi Brown has been a key aspect to the Panthers' offense, scoring 7.4 ppg and 3.6 rpg. He leads the team in assists with 55.
> Iowa State Transfer Jelani Hamilton has had a breakout season with the Panthers, scoring fifth Georgia State's leaderboard with 9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 18 assists and 14 steals.
> Hamilton notched a career-high nine rebounds, six assists and six free throws in the Panthers' win over Georgia Southern (Jan.8).
Georgia State heads to Arkansas State on Jan. 18 before returning to the GSU Convocation Center to host Marshall on Jan. 23.
