Devonta White tied for game-high honors with 20 points and Georgia State had its largest margin of victory since 2004, handing Rhode Island its worst loss of the season, 96-64.
It’s the seventh consecutive win for the Panthers, who also scored their most points since 2005.
Rhode Island led 15-13 with 12:37 left in the first half when Georgia State (7-3, 1-0) took control of the game with a 19-4 run that put the Rams (1-9) into a deep hole they never found a way out of.
The key to the outburst was defense, which sparked scoring by creating turnovers. The Panthers quickly got into transition and made easy layups and dunks to break the game open.
The Panthers forced 16 Rams turnovers, which led to 27 points, with 32 total fastbreak points. Credit that to GSU playing tight on the Rhode Island ballhandlers and forcing mistakes that resulted in points on the other end.
“That’s what we’ve been doing,” Georgia State coach Ron Hunter said. “If you look at the games we’ve been playing, defense has been our staple. This is a very good defensive basketball team. All we did was we took our concepts, and we added to it. And that’s what’s doing it.”
Each time the Panthers knocked down another transition layup or dunk, it was another blow to a Rams team that has lost six straight and matched its worst start to a season since 1983.
“That’s how you crumble,” said Jamal Wilson, who led the Rams with 20 points. “Before I knew it, they were up 20. It all snowballs. Their defense and their pressure being continuously on us caused us to keep falling deeper and deeper into it. Again, back to our drawing board.”
It kept building into many points for the Panthers, who received 35 points and 14 assists from an impressive backcourt tandem of White and James Fields. That’s the production Hunter has sought from his guards, and a possible sign that this team might be a difficult team to contend with when Colonial Athletic Association play kicks up to full speed next month.
“That’s the kind of game we know we can play,” White said. “The coaches tell the point guard, we’ve got to lead the team. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Next up for Georgia State is a trip to Utah Valley on Saturday at 9 p.m. The Panthers get back into CAA play on Jan. 2 when they host Drexel at 7 p.m.
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