With all of the struggles for the nomadic Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the rebuilding Georgia Bulldogs, the Georgia State Panthers are quickly becoming the state’s best college basketball product. Last night the Panthers traveled to Richmond and took down 2011 Final Four participant VCU 55-53 in a key early CAA conference game. The Panthers used a matchup zone to limit the Rams to just 27 percent shooting, switching between a 3-2 and a 1-3-1 to force 10 turnovers by the Rams.
Jihad Ali led Georgia State with 17 points while grabbing 11 rebounds as the Panthers posted a school-record 11th straight win. The Panthers improved to 3-0 in conference play (11-3 overall) in coach Ron Hunter’s first season on the bench. VCU fell to 11-4, 2-1.
Leading scorer Devonta White was held scoreless in the first half, but the Panthers still led at intermission. White would score 14 points in the second half, including a pair of three-point bombs to help Georgia State jump out to a nine-point lead. Josh Micheaux chipped in eight points, six rebounds, three blocks, four assists and a pair of steals. James Fields was clutch at the line, going 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. VCU tried to mount a late comeback but was turned away. It was the second victory in the Panthers last three games against the Rams.
“Our team played hard and left it all on the court,” said Hunter to Georgia State’s website. “I am just happy for my players. They have worked hard and they deserve this win.”
Georgia State’s 11-3 start is the best start since an 11-1 beginning to the 2000-01 season. After beginning the year 0-3, the Panthers have caught fire. The streak started Nov. 18 at home against McNeese State. The Panthers gave Hunter his first official win with a 69-50 decision thanks in large part to White’s career-high 23 points. The Panthers dominated the second half, a trend that has continued throughout the amazing run. Over the last 11 games, the Panthers have outscored opponents by 106 points in the second half, 403-297. Before last night, the Panthers had not been outscored in the second half until VCU edged them 28-27.
After a 55-47 win at Samford for win No. 2, the Panthers whipped Liberty 72-50 at the GSU Sports Arena. Ali was on fire in the second half as once again the Panthers dominated the second frame. Georgia State scored 35 in the second half to pull away with the win. Neither South Carolina State nor FIU offered much competition for Georgia State before the Panthers entered league play against William & Mary. Hunter’s zone defense set a conference record by giving up just 34 to the Tribe in a 66-34 win. Georgia State thrashed Rhode Island before heading out to Utah for a game against the Wolverines of Utah Valley. The Panthers needed every point they could find in the 71-68 squeaker. Micheaux contributed 12 points and eight rebounds while White and Ali added 17 and 16, respectively. Georgia State clobbered Georgia Southern by 20 before coming up with a huge 58-44 conference win over Drexel, one of the preseason CAA favorites. The Panthers snapped the Dragons six-game winning streak before ending VCU’s eight-game streak last night.
“We respect everyone in our league, but at the end of the day, we feel like we are a good basketball team too,” said Hunter.
Over the course of the streak, the Panthers defense has shut down the opposition to just over 51 points per game. Through three Colonial Athletic Association games, Georgia State has surrendered a hair over 43 points per game.
The Panthers are also getting it done on the road this year, winning all four of the team’s true road games. The only losses this year came on a neutral court in Seattle at the World Vision Classic.
Now Georgia State will visit former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt and his George Mason Patriots this Saturday in Fairfax, Va. Georgia State will need to limit GMU’s offensive rebounding as the Panthers gave up 16 to VCU and 13 to Drexel in its previous two games. Should the winning streak continue, perhaps Hunter and his squad will see a few more votes come its way after the Panthers showed up recently in the “others receiving votes” for the College Insider Mid-Major Poll.
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