Georgia State had every chance to put away Delaware, head home after a long road trip, and rest for another game Monday.
However, one old problem and one new problem contributed to the Panthers losing 77-74 to the Blue Hens in double overtime Saturday. The visiting Panthers couldn’t make free throws and for the second consecutive game were blitzed by 3-pointers. It was the Panthers’ second consecutive loss and third in their past five games.
They will host James Madison on Monday. Instead of riding home with a victory, coach Ron Hunter will be left to solve what is going wrong. “We are in a valley,” he said. “We have to find a way to fight through it.”
Delaware made 12 3-pointers, a game after Northeastern made 11, and Georgia State (13-6, 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association) missed eight of its 15 free throws.
Eric Buckner, who led the Panthers with 19 points and 15 rebounds, had a chance to win the game for the Panthers if he could make two free throws with 1.6 seconds left in regulation. Instead, he missed the first, but made the second to force the overtime with the teams tied at 60.
Buckner and James Fields each missed a free throw in the second overtime that could have kept the game closer. Buckner, who played one of his better games this season, missed a layup that could have won the game in the first overtime.
“It goes back to those little things, got to make free throws and layups,” Hunter said.
Brandon McGee missed two 3-pointers in the second overtime. Starting for the first time in 12 games, McGee finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Hunter said McGee will continue to start.
Delaware missed its first 14 shots as Georgia State raced to a 14-0 lead. But the defense couldn’t make a stop, just as in the loss to the Huskies.
Led by Jarvis Threatt, the Blue Hens made eight 3-pointers in the final 12 minutes, 6 seconds of the first half to cut the Panthers’ lead to 33-31 at halftime. Threatt finished with 30 points, mostly by making six of his nine 3-point shots.
The Panthers rebuilt their lead to 55-49 on a Josh Micheaux basket with 8:16 left. But the Blue Hens fought back to cut GSU’s lead to 56-55 with 4:11 left. Devon Saddler drilled a 3-pointer with 55 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Blue Hens a 60-59 lead.
Hunter said he was pleased with his team’s effort on defense, unlike the first half of the Northeastern game. Sometimes, he said you have to credit the other team’s offense.
“Even though they made 12, we still had an opportunity to win the game,” Hunter said. “We have to capitalize.”
-- Staff writer Doug Roberson contributed to this article.
