Georgia State beats Georgia Southern

Atkins has posted season highs in points in back-to-back games after struggling, like most of the Panthers, to find his offense against the better teams earlier in the season.

Atkins said he’s grown more comfortable and found his spots on the floor and role within the offense. Against the Eagles, Atkins was in the corner on the backside of the 2-3 defense. From there, he either shot 3-pointers (he hit two of five) or attacked the baseline. He hit eight of his 13 shots.

“I’m playing with confidence and shooting with confidence,” Atkins said. “I feel that’s all I need.”

The game was intense with a surprisingly large crowd of 1,893 on hand considering finals exams are over. The Eagles held a 45-44 lead less than eight minutes into the second half and brought back memories of last year’s game in Statesboro in which the Panthers blew a 10-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation to lose 68-64 in overtime.

Atkins said he called the team together and told them they weren’t going to lose like that. He said it was the worst loss of his career.

The Panthers answered with a 15-4 run capped by four points by Atkins to take a 59-49 lead with less than eight minutes remaining.

Atkins later finished any chance the Eagles had of rallying, flying under the basket to hit a wrap-around layup as he was fouled. Atkins sank the free throw to give the Panthers an 11-point lead with 3:07 left.

The rivalry will be official once again next year when the Eagles join the Panthers as members of the Sun Belt Conference. The two were formally members of the TAAC, but Georgia Southern left the conference in the early 1990s.