Poor shooting, poor rebounding and solid execution on offense and defense by Louisiana-Lafayette combined to end Georgia State’s four-game winning streak, 87-54 on Saturday afternoon at the GSU Sports Arena.
The Panthers (11-4, 4-2 Sun Belt) were outrebounded (38-21), saw the reserves outscored (43-15), had more turnovers (12-5), gave up six more 3-pointers than it made (5) and went almost eight minutes without a field goal in the second half to see their 15-game home winning streak snapped.
“We got our butt whipped today, every facet, every way,” coach Ron Hunter said. “That’s not something we are used to here.”
The 33-point margin was the largest defeat since Hunter took over Georgia State before the 2011-12 season.
Here are five observations about the game:
Making Shawn Long work. Louisiana-Lafayette's 6-foot-9 center entered Saturday as the NCAA's active leader in double-doubles, with 62 in 115 games. He was averaging 18.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game this season.
Hunter started 6-7 T.J. Shipes and 6-6 Markus Crider along with 6-8 Jeremy Hollowell to provide as much height inside as possible in an attempt to make Long work on offense and defense.
It didn’t work.
Long had four points and eight rebounds, four on offense, in the game’s first 13 minutes.
Crider picked up his third foul and then Shipes his third and fourth within five minutes of the start of the second half trying to defend not just Long but the other Ragin’ Cajuns.
Long finished with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 18 rebounds.
Consistent defense. The Panthers were allowing 59.5 points per game, ninth lowest in Division I entering Saturday's games, and forced the Cajuns into 2-of-12 shooting to start the game.
Things quickly changed.
With Georgia State’s defense unsuccessfully focusing on Long inside, the Cajuns took advantage of the space left outside to make 6 of 17 3-pointers in the first half.
They kept firing in the second half, finishing with 27 attempts and 11 made, tying for the most allowed by Georgia State this season.
“We did a poor job,” Hunter said. “You can’t let them make 11 3’s and try to guard Shawn Long.”
Consistent rebounding. When the Cajuns did miss a shot, a teammate usually was there to grab the rebound.
Trailing 14-6, in the first half. Louisiana-Lafayette began attacking the offensive rebounds and pulled itself back into the game. The Cajuns already had eight offensive rebounds that it turned into nine second-chance points to pull within one with 7:38 remaining in the first half. Conversely, Georgia State had no offensive rebounds.
The Cajuns turned 16 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
“We can play this in our head, and we wouldn’t this game,” Hunter said.
Outside shooting. Georgia State grabbed only four offensive rebounds. As a result, Georgia State's outside shooters couldn't keep pace.
The Panthers started hot, running to a 14-6 lead before Louisiana-Lafayette eventually countered with a press and 1-2-2/3-2 zone that befuddled the Panthers. They made only five field goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half, during which their eight-point lead turned into a four-point deficit.
The Cajuns brought the press back after the first two minutes of the second half — during which Ware scored five points — and the Panthers again struggled because Hunter said the offense didn’t play at its preferred slower, half-court pace.
“We had more one-pass shots than we’ve had all year,” Hunter said.
The Panthers went almost eight minutes in the second half without a field goal, during which the Cajuns blew open the game.
Road woes vs. happy home. Trends indicated this should have been a game that Georgia State won easily.
Louisiana-Lafayette was 1-8 in road games this season, with its only win a 74-65 victory over Georgia Southern on Thursday.
Georgia State was 33-1 at home since the 2013-14 season.
“They were ready to play, and we weren’t mentally or physically tough today,” Hunter said.
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