Jacksonville, Fla.--Leonard Mendez scored 23 points and Rashad Chase hit three clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds to give Georgia State a 65-60 road victory at Jacksonville Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Panthers (2-3) led most of the game and held a five-point advantage with less than two minutes to play but Jacksonville (3-2) cut it one on Marcus Allen's layup that made the score 61-60 with just 25 seconds left. The Dolphins fouled Chase immediately, and the junior from Atlanta sank both free throws for a 63-60 lead.
After Ben Smith missed a thee-pointer for Jacksonville, the ball went out of bounds to State, and Chase hit his first free throw for a three-point lead. He missed the second, but freshman D.J. Jones grabbed the rebound and hit one of two free throws for the final margin.
“It was good to see us fight through that game and get a win, especially on the road,” said Georgia State head coach Rod Barnes. “We made plays when we had to. We still had too many turnovers, but we found a way to win. I like what our kids are doing right now.”
The Panthers shot a season-best 50 percent from the field, including 6-for-14 from three-point range, while holding Jacksonville to 37.5 percent.
Mendez, the junior from Atlanta, hit 9-of-18 shots, including four treys, and also grabbed five steals, his career best. He was the only Panther in double figures but all 10 players got in the scoring column, with Chase, Justin Billingslea and Trae Goldston contributing eight points each.
“We got contributions from everyone tonight, which is what we have to do in order to be successful,” said Barnes. “I was happy to see Norman Mitchell step up and give us a big basket, and Michael Moynihan came in and gave us some quality minutes after Trae Goldston turned his ankle.
“I always tell them, if we're together, we can win games."”
Chase grab bed a game-high eight rebounds, snapping his string of four straight double-figure efforts.
After growing a 34-31 halftime lead to eight points early in the second half, Georgia State allowed the Dolphins to tie the game at 44-all with 13 minutes left befpre going on a 13-2 run to build an 11-point advantage at 57-46 with six minutes to play. Mitchell and Mendez hit three-pointers during the run, Moynihan had a basket and Ousman Krubally scored twice.
Lehmon Colbert led Jacksonville with 17 points, while Ben Smith added 13.
Georgia State returns home to host Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Georgia State Sports Arena.
