Mobile, Ala.-Georgia State fell to South Alabama, 70-66, Thursday in the championship of the South Alabama Thanksgiving Tournament, despite a career-high 26 points by the Panthers' Joe Dukes.
Trae Goldston's layup put Georgia State (3-4) ahead, 64-63, with 2:28 left, but Gary Redus answered with a three-pointer for South Alabama with a minute to play, and the Jaguars made enough free throws down the stretch to hold off GSU. Redus' trey came after the Panthers had forced a missed shot but could not corrall the rebound.
After Redus put USA ahead 66-64, Goldston missed a three-point attempt with 32 seconds left and the Panthers were forced to foul. Redus made one free throw for a three-point Jaguar lead. He missed the second and Georgia State appeared to grab rebound, which would have given the Panthers another shot to tie, but Jihad Ali stepped on the end line when he came down with the ball.
Dukes, who also scored 24 points last season against VCU, had 15 points in the second half while contributing six rebounds, three assists and two steals to make the All-Tournament team. Xavier Hansbro, who scored a career-best 21 points in the Panthers' opening win over Utah Valley, was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Georgia State rallied several times in the second half to give itself a chance to win. Trailing 44-36 with 16 minutes left, Goldston and Dukes hit back-to-back three-pointers to key a 14-3 run that put the GSU ahead 50-47 with 12 minutes to go.
The Panthers then found themselves trailing 63-58 with five-and-a-half minutes to play. A layup by Dukes cut the deficit to three, and then Goldston made consecutive baskets, the second one a layup off a steal by Ousman Krubally to give Georgia State its 64-63 lead with 2:28 on the clock.
Goldston finished with 16 points, and Ali added 10 points and six rebounds. The Panthers shot a season-best 52.9 percent from the field, including 55 percent in the second half, but were outrebounded, 37-26.
Bryan Sherrer led South Alabama with 15 points, one of four Jaguars in double figures. Tim Williams had 10 points and nine rebounds to take home Most Valuable Player honors for the two-day tournament.
After playing five straight road games, Georgia State returns home to host Jacksonville Monday at 7 p.m. at the GSU Sports Arena.
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