After losing to Troy on their home floor late in the season, the Panthers weren’t going to be outdone again.

Georgia State easily defeated Troy 73-51 on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Panthers advanced to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of Georgia Southern-Louisiana-Monroe to be played Friday night.

Jeff Thomas led the Panthers with 19 points, while leading-scorer D’Marcus Simonds contributed 17. Georgia State shot 51 percent against Troy’s 31 percent.

The tournament is being played at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Amari Odom celebrates a touchdown during Kennesaw State's 19-15 win over Jacksonville State in the Conference USA championship game on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Jacksonville, Ala. (Kennesaw State Athletics)

Credit: Kennesaw State Athletics

Featured

Fans celebrate in the stands after Cape Verde defeated Eswatini in a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Estádio Nacional in Praia, Cape Verde, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to clinch their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Cristiano Barbosa/AP)

Credit: AP