Montgomery, Ala. (Dec. 16) – Georgia State's senior forward Lance Perique had a career high with 29 points to lead the visiting Panthers to a 64-56 win over Alabama State Saturday evening.
After leading by 10 at the half, Georgia State (4-5) saw Alabama State open with a 9-0 second half start and a 20-6 run to re-take the lead 41-37. Trailing 43-41 with 10:05, Perique and the Panthers went to work. Perique scored 11 as the Panthers went on a 17-4 five-minute burst to open a 58-47 margin with 5:03 to play.
“A lot of guys contributed in small, unseen ways tonight to get this win on the road,” Coach Michael Perry noted. “Lance is playing at a higher level. I'm impressed with him on and off the court this year. We forget how much devastation he had to go through last year with Hurricane Katrina and the related problems.”
The game started with the teams trading the lead and being tied four times before Georgia State went on a 6-0 run to open a 16-12 lead at 11:10. The host Hornets scored five straight with an Edun three-point basket giving them their last lead at 17-16 at 9:51. Lance Perique scored six straight points, four from the free throw line, to open a 22-17 Panthers lead at 6:13. Over the final five minutes of the half, Georgia State went on a 9-2 run with four inside baskets and a free throw to take a 31-21 margin into the halftime break. Perique scored 13 in the first half with 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Brandon Cartwright also had a big game for the Panthers, scoring a career-high 13 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Eleven of Cartwright's points came in the second half.
The Lott family bragging rights stay with freshmen Kevin of Georgia State as the Panthers won both games this season. The freshman played 14 points in each win and had two points and two rebounds tonight. Redshirt junior Richard was the leader for Alabama State with his 16 points of 8-of-12 shooting before fouling out.
This formula for a win saw the Panthers get to the free throw line. Georgia State was 20-of-28 at the line (71.4%) as they were just above their season average of 18-of-26. The aggressive inside play has seen the Panthers make 168 of 239 free throws this season, which means their 168 made is three more than the opponents have even attempted (165 with just 114 made).
This is the Panthers first road win after losses at Georgia Tech, at Charlotte and at preseason CAA favorite Hofstra. “We're looking forward to the rest of the season as I continue to see improvement and more contributions from more people,” Perry said.
Georgia State will return to action Wednesday, Dec. 20, with a game at the Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Tip time is 8 p.m. eastern with pre game on WRAS-FM (88.5) starting at 7:30 p.m.
Notebook: The Panthers will await the results of first-semester grades to find out if 6-8, 235-pound junior forward Justin Billingslea becomes eligble to play, starting with the Iowa game Wednesday....Perique's 29 points top his 22 earlier this year at Georgia Tech and his 21 last year at Willam & Mary. He has reached double figures in eight of the nine games this year and 12 times in his Panthers career...Cartwright's 13 points mark his first-ever double-figure game at State and his eight boards top his previous six vs. VCU...The Panthers, who are third in the CAA with a 35.6 rebound average, had a 33-32 rebound advantage Saturday night at Alabama State...
