If this is what happens to one of the top mid-major teams in the country when visiting Georgia State, then it’s no wonder every opposing Sun Belt coach picked the Panthers to win the league.
The Panthers blitzed Green Bay from the start for a 72-48 victory at rowdy GSU Sports Arena on Thursday night. GSU’s fifth victory in a row was its best.
“That was a very impressive win by our guys,” Panthers coach Ron Hunter said. “Really happy with the way they played. Even though the score doesn’t show that, I want everyone to understand we beat a really good basketball team that will be playing in the NCAA Tournament.”
GSU’s back court of R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow combined to score 43 points. Hunter (26 points) posted his fourth consecutive game with at least 20 points and Harrow had eight assists to go along with 17 points.
The Panthers shot 53.1 percent from the field while holding Green Bay to 28.8 percent.
“Tonight was one of the best defensive games I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” R.J. Hunter said. “Everybody was flying around. Everybody knew the scouting report. I think that’s just a mature basketball team.”
The Panthers (6-2) were at home for the first time since routing Tennessee Temple on Nov. 14. Since then, they’d lost at Iowa State and Colorado State before winning four in a row against lesser competition.
Green Bay (5-2) was supposed to provide a tougher test. The coaches voting in CollegeInsider.com’s mid-major poll had Green Bay ranked No. 7 and Georgia State No. 11. Ken Pomeroy’s computer ratings predicted a one-point GSU victory.
It took less than 10 minutes for the Panthers to show that the coaches and computers underestimated them.
The Panthers ran out to a 19-6 lead behind seven points from R.J. Hunter and six points and three assists by Harrow. They closed the half with an 11-0 run to lead 42-18 at the break and their advantage never dipped below 15 after halftime.
There was plenty of post-whistle sniping and shoving between players with game officials stepping in frequently with warnings. The teams play again Dec. 27 in Green Bay, Wis.
“They are a really good basketball team so we knew that was going to happen,” R.J. Hunter said. “A lot of our games have been physical this year so we are kind of used to it. We know it only lasts for five minutes and then we are back to our game plan. Once we got through that first five and built our confidence up, it was history.”
The marquee matchup between star players also was a mismatch.
R.J. Hunter and Green Bay guard Keifer Sykes were named to the 50-player Naismith Trophy watch list this week by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Hunter, the coach’s son, is the reigning Sun Belt player of the year and Sykes won the same award in the Horizon League last season.
State’s stifling defense limited Sykes to 16 points and 5-of-15 shooting from the field.
“He’s a very good player,” Ron Hunter said. “We wanted him to see a lot of bodies. We have a lot of length and athleticism. Every time he turned a corner we wanted him to see a body. We wanted to make every basket tough.”
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