ATLANTA-- Georgia State hosts Louisiana Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center.
Georgia State and Louisiana are meeting for the 17th time in program history. The Panthers are 11-5 in the series after defeating the Rajin' Cajuns 78-69 on Feb. 7, 2024.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WRAS-FM 88.5, GSU Athletics app
PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT
> Led by Nick McMullen, who leads the conference and ranks 11th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers rank fifth overall in the Sun Belt in rebounds per game with 38.14.
> Nick McMullenis second in the Sun Belt in every rebounding category, including total rebounds (140, ranks 13th nationally), rebounds per-game (10.0, ranks 17th nationally), defensive rebounds per-game (6.761/ 25th nationally) and offensive rebounds (3.29/ 30th 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 12.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 18 assists.
> The Veteran Guard is fifth in the Sun Belt in three pointers per-game with 2.57.
> The guard also ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for total 3-pointers made (5th/ 36) and three-point percentage (7th/ 29.0).
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 14.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 34 assists,.
> Nutter is third in the conference for free throws with 56. He is sixth in the conference for total points with 192, and fifth in the conference for points per-game with 14.8.
> Senior Cesare Edwards is third on the Panthers' leaderboard with 12.4 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 6.4 rpg. He totals 13 assists and nine steals on the season.
> Edwards ranks third in the conference in double-doubles 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).
> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 140 rebounds so far this season. His 10.0 rebounds per game is second in the Sun Belt, and ranks 17th nationally.
> McMullen averages 8.9 ppg.
> McMullen is second the conference and ranks 30th nationally in double-doubles, totaling five. 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). His third happened in the Panthers Contest agaisnt Kennesaw State (Dec. 6), when the forward put up 10 points and 12 rebounds.
> Sophomore transfer Malachi Brown has been a key aspect to the Panthers' offense, scoring 7.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg. He leads the team in assists with 44.
> Brown put up a career-high 15 points at Jacksonville State (Nov. 13).
> Iowa State Transfer Jelani Hamilton has had a breakout season with the Panthers, scoring fourth Georgia State's leaderboard with 9.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, eight assists and 11 steals.
Georgia State continues its home-conference stretch against Georgia Southern (Jan. 8) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 11).
