Samford outscored a flat Georgia State team 14-5 in the overtime period Saturday en route to a 70-61 win over the Panthers.
That the game went into overtime was an indication of how the Panthers played. Samford, picked toward the bottom of the Southern Conference, came in 3-3, having lost against the likes of Jacksonville, Middle Tennessee and Youngstown State.
But Saturday, they never let Georgia State build a cushion. The Panthers led virtually the entire game, but mostly by only four or five points.
Then in the last minute of regulation, the Panthers saw a six-point lead disappear. Samford’s Josh Bedwell, fouled on a three-point shot, hit three free throws, and then Andy King nailed a deep three with 15 seconds to play to tie the game. Jihad Ali drove the length of the court for the Panthers but was called with a charge, sending the game into overtime.
Georgia State’s ice-cold shooting spilled over to the overtime period. Georgia State was 1-of-12 shooting in the OT period after shooting 32 percent in the second half.
“We just didn’t make plays in the last three minutes of the game, and they hit some nice shots and we gave them some easy ones,” Panthers coach Rod Barnes said. “They have a unique style of play that you can’t really get used to until you play them. And we’ve been a team that has been able to close games out, but not tonight.”
Tied at 56 after regulation, Samford looked every bit the team full of confidence as the Bulldogs rattled off jumpers, free throws and drives. Most importantly though, they limited the Panthers to just three points in overtime.
Georgia State’s Brandon McGee got the start for the Panthers over Harold Doby and sparked Georgia State early, scoring, rebounding and blocking a shot.
Georgia State’s patient, motion offense was getting its share of shots in the paint early. But when Samford challenged them to shoot from the outside, the Panthers struggled and trailed 19-17 at one point. But in a period of about 90 seconds, McGee, Dante Curry and Javonte Maynor all hit three-pointers. Maynor hit two more in the next couple of minutes. That kind of shooting eventually could have paid dividends for Georgia State’s inside game, but the Panthers never went back there.
Starting McGee was looking like a stroke of genius on Barnes’ part. The 6-7 forward was 4-for-4 shooting in the first half for nine points and three rebounds and a blocked shot. McGee, a junior college transfer, played sparking in Georgia State’s first two games, but got 26 minutes of playing time last week against Utah Valley and scored 12 points.
“We thought he’s practiced well and played well in the last game and deserved to get the start,” Barnes said. “He was very good offensively in the first half.”
The Panthers struggled to start the second half, getting only a Maynor three-pointer in the first seven minutes of the half.
Marques Johnson, the Panthers' leading scorer this season, scored his first points of the night with 8:30 to play. And McGee’s magic in the first half faded in the second half, adding to the offensive woes.
No Panther is averaging double-digit points this season. Barnes said finding a consistent scorer would be huge for his team.
“You’d like to have a guy you can count on to score 12 or 15 points a night, but we’re not there yet. We’re going to keep rotating guys and looking for that player, but it’d sure be good to have one.”
Georgia State plays at Hampton on Monday then is back home Thursday to play its only conference game in December, against James Madison.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
