ATLANTA (Jan. 6) – Georgia State posted its first CAA win of the year with a dramatic come-from-behind 87-81 double overtime win over Towson at the Georgia State Sports Arena.
Trailing by six points with five minutes to play, the host Panthers (5-8/1-2) scrambled back to finally tie the game at 64 with 11 seconds left on a three-point basket from the corner by forward Rashad Chase.
In the first overtime, State led by three after a trey by Lance Perique with 1:39. but Tim Crossin hit a free throw and Gary Neal a basket with 24 seconds left to tie that period at 72.
In the second overtime, Lance Perique made two free throws, then stole a pass and drove for a tomahawk dunk to put State up four in the first minute. Towson came right back and pulled with one at 80-79 with 1:57 to go on a trey by Rocky Coleman. An offensive rebound by Chase and two free throws put State up three. With 30 seconds, Chase hit a final three to provide the victory for the Panthers.
Georgia State got double-doubles from their forwards Perique and Chase. The 6-8 Perique had 26 points and a career-best 14 rebounds. The 6-7 Chase had 23 points and had 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Guard Leonard Mendez returned after sitting out the last game with the flu and tied his career high with 19 points. Point guard Ron Larris added 10 rebounds, five assists and five points.
Towson, playing and losing its second consecutive double overtime game, falls to 6-7 and 1-2 in the CAA. The nation's fifth-leading scorer Gary Neal scored 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while guard Rocky Coleman added 21 points, seven boards and five assists for the Tigers.
“When you fight hard, good things can happen,” Coach Perry said post-game. “It was an especially tremendous effort by Perique and Chase today because those two obviously just didn't want to lose. The crowd wasn't big in number today with the students on semester break, but those that were here were loud and helped us win this game. Neal is dangerous any time, any where, but we tried to keep out on him to contest his long shots (just one for 12 outside the arc).
“This is a boost for our team to pull together and get a win,” Lance Perique said. “We got down but we were able to come back because everybody gave us something. We got the first conference win, now we need to get another one Monday.”
Georgia State had a season-best 11 three-point baskets, one more than in the opener vs. Charleston. But, their nemesis was themselves at the free throw line as they made just 24-of-41 for 58.5 percent. The 50 rebounds is a season best for State as they had 12 offensive rebounds.
State has now won 22 consecutive games when scoring 80 or more points and 56 of the past 59 games when they are able to top that 80-point total.
The Panthers return to action quickly with a Monday night CAA home game with the William & Mary Tribe, 9-4 and on a seven-game winning streak, at 6 p.m.
NOTEBOOK: The double-overtime game is State's first in three years. In a span of 27 days in the 2002-03 season, State played a remarkable three double-overtime games, winning just one. Two of those three were here at the Sports Arena and were the losses...Perique's 26 points are his second most ever behind his 29 at Alabama State on Dec. 16 and his 14 rebounds top his 10 vs. Florida State in December. Perique played 49 of the 50 minutes today...Chase's 23 points are one shy of his personal best 24 vs. Winston-Salem and his 12 rebounds tie his best vs. Charlotte and Savannah State. It was his fifth career double-double, the third of this season. His six offensive rebounds are why he is second in the CAA in that category...Mendez' 19 points tie his best of 19 twice before...Larris' 10 rebounds are his pesonal high and his five assists were one shy of his best of six vs. Georgia Tech...The Panthers were 11-of-26 outside the arc to top the 10 made at Charlotte this year. Six different players made at least one three-pointer...The 41 free throws attempted today marked the second time the hustling Panthers have gotten to the line more than 40 times (43 vs. Winston-Salem)...The Panthers had a season low 11 turnovers today, one fewer than the win over Savannah State.
