ATLANTA (Jan. 31) – Georgia State gained its first-ever season series sweep with a 72-60 win over Colonial Athletic Association rival UNC Wilmington on Wednesday night at the Georgia State Sports Arena.

Georgia State (8-14, 4-8) had four players in double figures on offense and limited the UNC Wilmington (5-16, 2-10) to 32.8 percent shooting for the game and just 25.9 percent outside the arc. Wilmington was last year's tournament champion and NCAA bid winner.

The Panthers got 19 points and seven rebounds from senior forward Lance Perique, plus 15 points each from guards Leonard Mendez and Trae Goldston. Senior win Brandon Cartwright added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists as the spark before getting in second half foul trouble. Goldston hit 4-of-6 three-point baskets and Mendez reached double figures for a 12th straight game.

UNC Wilmington was led by 6-10 center Vladimir Kuljanin with 17 points and seven rebounds and guard Daniel Fountain with 15 points.

After five ties and seven lead changes in the first 15 minutes, the visitors had a 19-18 lead at 4:53. Georgia State caught fire and went on a 14-0 run, spurred by three's from Perique, Goldston and Cartwright to open a 32-19 advantage. State led at halftime, 32-21.

UNC Wilmington's Daniel Fountain scored the first eight points of the second half to close that gap to 32-29 in just two and a half minutes. State answered that with an 8-1 run to re-open a 40-30 lead at 15:04. State kept control and was leading 57-46 with 3:10 to play when the Seahawks made one final push. A Kuljanin three-point play the old-fashioned way close the score to 61-57 with just 1:07 left. But, State made its free throws down the stretch to re-open the double digit lead.

“We extended our defense tonight to more full court to get some extra pressure and to stay active and aggressive,” Coach Michael Perry noted. “We responded to all their challenges this evening and got our offense and defense on the same page in the same game. The guys shared the ball well, moved it around and played unselfishly. Brandon Cartwright's energy was contagious to our team tonight.”

Georgia State's 8th win and 4th CAA win top last year's inaugural 7-win and 3-CAA win totals.

The Panthers will play a 2 p.m. Saturday TV game at the CAA's first place team, Virginia Commonwealth (20-3, 11-0) in Richmond. The game will be broadcast live, as always, on WRAS-FM radio.