Hempstead, N.Y. (Dec. 2) – Georgia State saw host Hofstra get the final five points to record a 62-59 win over the Panthers in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener for both teams.
Georgia State came roaring back from 15 points down in the second half to tie at 57 at 2:25 on a trey from Lance Perique. The Panthers then took the lead at 59-57 with 1:30 to play on a short jumper by Perique. Antoine Agudio of Hofstra made a free throw to make it 59-58 with just minute to go.
Georgia State had a crucial shot clock violation that turned the ball back over to Hofstra with 26.6 to go. After the time out, preseason CAA Player-of-the-Year Loren Stokes drove the right side of the lane and banked home a go-ahead basket with 18.5 seconds.
Ron Larris missed along the baseline for State before Mike Davis-Sabb, a 40 percent free throw shooter, made two free throws with 7.6 seconds to put the final points on the board. Georgia State's final attempt from three to tie and force overtime was blocked and resulted in a travel.
“We didn't make the plays to finish the game off,” said head coach Michael Perry. “We were horrific in free throw shooting today after shooting well all season. We missed five lay-ups in the first half alone, so we were our own enemy, too.
But, while we were on the losing side of the score today, we may be on the winning side of the effort and determination to help ourselves later in the season.”
Georgia State (3-4/0-1) was led in scoring by forward Lance Perique with 17 points (7-10) followed by point guard Ron Larris and wing Ryan McBride with 10 points each. Center Deven Dickerson came off the bench to provide 10 points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes before his asthma got the best of him and he didn't play down the final stretch of the game. Forward Justin Billingslea will also re-join the team in a few weeks at the end of the first semester and did not play in this first of two match-ups with the team that was picked as the pre-season favorites to win the CAA after their 26-win season last year.
Hofstra (4-3/1-0) was led by with 18 points and seven rebounds. Fellow guards Antoine Agudio and Carlos Rivera each added 10 points. Mike Davis-Saab contributed 14 points off the bench with 5-7 field goals and 4-4 free throws.
Georgia State shot just 27 percent in the first half, but came back with a sizzling 15-of-25 in the second half (60 percent) for 44.7 for the game. But, State was just 12-of-23 (52 percent) from the free throw line that hurt. Hofstra shot 40 percent in the first half and answered with 50 percent in the second half to finish at 44.2 for the game.
Georgia State held a 34-32 rebound advantage, despite not having its "big men." State made 5-14 outside the arc while Hofstra made just four of its 20 attempts.
In the first half, the teams traded the lead four times and were tied three times to get to 7-7 at 13:20. Five points from Stokes spurred a 7-0 run to give Hofstra 14-7 margin at the 12-minute mark. State closed to five at 16-11 after a Chase free throw, but Hofstra built its largest lead of the first half at 22-13. State closed again to 24-19 at five points at 3:12. But, the host Pride scored the final seven points of the first half to open a 12-point halftime lead of 31-29
State has now held three of its last four opponents to 62 points or fewer and is second in the CAA in field goal percentage defense outside the arc.
Georgia State will play host to Florida State Thursday night at the Georgia State Sports Arena. Tip time is 7 p.m. for the CAA-ACC skirmish on Comcast (CSS) TV.
