CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 25) – Georgia State battled back from a double-digit deficit to take a 63-62 lead with 3:45 to go, but host Charlotte finished with free throws to earn a 72-63 win Saturday night.
State held Charlotte 10 minutes without a field goal (13:00 to 2:42) as they battled back from that 52-42 deficit to take the lead. Charlotte scored 16 of its final 20 points in the game from the line and shot 19-of-21 free throws in the second half to 5-of-6 free throws for Georgia State in the second half.
State (2-3) saw a two-game win streak end. Sophomore forward Rashad Chase led the way with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Leading scorer Lance Perique was saddled with fouls and played just eight minutes of the first half, but came back strong to score 12 points (eight in the final 6:30 of the game). Point guard Ron Larris added 11 points. Ryan McBride and Leonard Mendez each added nine points. Georgia State made 10-of-24 outside the three-point line and 13-of-15 free throws.
Charlotte (2-2) got 15 points from guard Carlos Williams, who was 7-of-7 from the free throw line, and 14 points from forward E.J. Drayton. Ian Anderson added 11 points off the bench. Charlotte, who hit six three-point baskets in the first half, did not make one in the second half against State's tougher defense. Charlotte's long misses helped them claim a 43-28 rebound advantage.
Georgia State had battled back to take the lead behind three three-pointers from Ryan McBride and eight of 10 points from Perique to take that 63-62 advantage. But, Williams' jump shot near the free throw line ended the 49ers 10-minute drought and put them ahead to stay. State had three shots go in the basket and spin out as they tried to re-gain the lead.
The game started with Georgia making four of its first five shots to open a quick 10-5 at 16:45. But, it was at that point that Lance Perique, State's leading scorer, picked up his second foul on an offensive play and had to go to the bench. Host Charlotte then went on a 16-1 run with a trio of three-point baskets sparking the run that gave the home team a 21-11 advantage at 8:52. Visiting State missed 13-of-15 shots during the stretch that Charlotte opened its largest lead of 29-16 at 6:39. The teams traded baskets and Charlotte still held a 33-20 lead at 4:30 when State came charging back as Perique played four more minutes. State finished with a 10-2 run to close to 35-30 at the halftime. Chase had eight points and seven rebounds in the first half to pace State, while Ian Andersen came off the Charlotte bench to lead the 49ers with 11 first-half points. State shot just 31 percent in the first half (9-of-29) while Charlotte hit 43.3 on 13-of-30.
"It was a heck of a game tonight because both teams fought hard," Coach Perry said after the game. "We went into this game knowing they would get some momentum playing back at home. I told the guys to just weather the storm and keep fighting and we could come back and win. We had some great looks after we got the lead late, but three different times shots went in and popped back out."
"You need some nights like this to learn, but you want to win when you learn, so this is disappointing for us," Perry noted.
Georgia State will return to action Thursday night when they play host to Savannah State (5-3) in a 7 p.m. game at the Sports Arena.
NOTEBOOK: Georgia State has shot better than 70 percent from the line in every game this season and were excellent again tonight with 13-of-15 for 86.7 percent. The Panthers had been averaging 32.5 attempts per game this season, but got to the line just 15 times in Charlotte. The 10 three-point baskets made are a season best and the team is 33 for 80 outside the arc this season to rank among the CAA leaders. Rashad Chase had his second double-double of the season with 13 points and a career-best 12 rebounds. Point guard Ron Larris had his first double-figure game with 11 points tonight. Center Deven Dickerson continues his return from ashtma attacks and logged 12 minutes tonight with four rebounds and a blocked shot.
