Georgia State men’s basketball team couldn’t pass its second SEC test in a week.
Alabama blew by the Panthers 75-58 on Tuesday in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off. The loss came a week after Vanderbilt defeated the Panthers in the Nashville.
The defeat means no NIT semifinals, no Madison Square Garden, no Thanksgiving in New York and no national exposure for Georgia State (2-2). Instead, the Panthers will play two consolation games at a to-be-determined site on Nov. 25 and 26.
Unlike the 86-80 loss to Nashville in which the Panthers and Commodores were tied with just a few minutes left, Alabama was in control throughout. The Tide used a patient offense and disciplined defense that eliminated R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow. The Panthers’ leading scorers were combining to average 41.7 points per game. They combined to score 10 on Tuesday. It was Georgia State’s lowest scoring output this year and 33 points below its season average.
Early in the first half, Alabama passed the ball around the 3-point line, seldom needing to dribble as Georgia State’s defenders frantically chased the action from their spots in the zone defense. They often overpursued and eventually the Tide would find an open man around the 3-point line.
Adding to the defensive issues, because both picked up two fouls early, neither center Curtis Washington or backup T.J. Shipes could aggressively challenge when the ball came inside. Alabama opened up a 31-19 lead with 5:20 remaining.
Georgia State’s offense was doing nothing to help its defense. The Panthers couldn’t get into a rhythm, nor could they find an open shooter because neither Devonta White nor Harrow could cleanly get into the free-throw lane to throw the ball back out to shooters Hunter or Rashaad Richardson. The Panthers went without a field goal for 4:28 in the first half as the Tide opened up the 12-point lead.
But Georgia State wouldn’t let Alabama run away. Richardson scored six of the Panthers’ next nine points to cut Alabama’s lead to 38-30 at halftime.
Alabama was whistled for five fouls in the opening 1:43 of the second half, opening the door for the Panthers to eventually use free throws to tighten the game.
But Georgia State fell too far behind too quickly to take advantage of the possibility.
Alabama went on a 9-0 run after the binge of fouls to take a 49-32 lead less than five minutes into the second half.
With Washington and Shipes in foul trouble, Alabama attacked inside in the second half and the Panthers could do little to stop them.
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