The Panthers overcame an 11-point first-half deficit, and freshman R.J. Hunter tied a career-high with 27 points in a 78-73 victory over Northeastern in Boston on Wednesday night.
Georgia State (11-12, 6-4 Colonial Athletic Association) won for the fifth time in six games, while Northeastern (13-8, 8-1) had its eight-game winning streak snapped as the Huskies dropped their first game in conference play.
Hunter, who helped cut the deficit in the first half with 12 consecutive Panthers points, tied his career-high set just over a week ago, making 10-of-18 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range. His biggest play might have been on defense, blocking Jonathan Lee’s jumper with under 20 seconds to play that would have tied the score.
Rashaad Richardson and Devonta White each added 13 for the Panthers, while Manny Atkins chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Northeastern blitzed Georgia State with eight 3-pointers in the first half, but the Panthers were able to stay within seven. The defense tightened up in the second half to force the Huskies to miss nine of their 12 attempts.
Rashaad Richardson and Devonta White added 13 points each. Manny Atkins scored 12. James Vincent came through with several important offensive rebounds.
“That was a very good win for us,” coach Ron Hunter said in a statement givent to the media. “In the first half, Northeastern shot the ball extremely well and I told our guys that we are a better defense team than that. In the second half, we came out and played GSU-type defense and held them to just 27 points and under 40 percent shooting.
“We played with a lot of confidence in the second half. We have been playing with a lot of confidence lately and the results are showing on the court.”
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