ATLANTA-Coming off just the second loss in the last 15 games, Georgia State will look to rebound on Saturday at Delaware. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark.
Georgia State (13-5, 5-2 CAA) suffered a hard-fought 60-57 loss at Northeastern on Wednesday, overcoming a 10-point second half deficit and missing a three-pointer with under five seconds to play that could have sent the game into overtime.
The Panthers, who are ranked in the top 10 nationally in defense, are allowing just 57.1 points per game, which is on pace to set a new school record. Delaware (7-10, 3-4 CAA) suffered a 26-point loss at George Mason on Wednesday and has lost three straight, but is 5-3 at home this season.
The game can be heard live on WRAS-FM 88.5 beginning at 1:30 p.m. with the Panther Pregame Show. Live stats are available at GeorgiaStateSports.com.
In Wednesday's loss, Georgia State got 17 points and six blocks from senior Eric Buckner, along with 12 points from senior James Fields. Buckner moved into fourth on Georgia State's all-time blocks list and now stands just 24 blocks shy of the all-time mark set by Zavian Smith with a minimum of 13 games to play.
"It was good to see Eric step-up big in the paint for us on Wednesday," commented head coach Ron Hunter. "We were able to take advantage of his low post presence on offense and he controlled the lane on defense.
"As a team, our offense has to continue to get better. Although we have been winning games just by scoring in the 50's, we cannot rely on our defense to be able to do that the rest of the season.
"We are going to make some changes on Saturday that I hope increase scoring and our production off the bench."
Since the start of 2012, the Panthers have scored 60 or more points just once; however, GSU is 4-2 during that stretch and stands tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association standings.
Georgia State continues to be one of the best defensive teams in the CAA and the nation. In seven CAA games, opponents are scoring just 50.7 points per game, while shooting 32.6 percent from the floor and 30.9 percent from three-point range.
Nationally, Georgia State is ranked 14th in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 57.1 points per game. The Panthers are also ranked ninth in field goal defense, ninth in steals with 9.6 per game and 38th in blocks, averaging 5.0 per contest.
Georgia State is also not turning the ball over, currently having a plus-4.50 turnover margin, 11th best in the NCAA, committing just 12.0 turnovers per game, the 40th best mark in the country.
The Blue Hens are led by all-CAA honoree Devon Saddler, who is second in the league in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. Jamelle Hagins is averaging a double-double per game, scoring 13.2 points and grabbing 11.4 rebounds per contest.
Georgia State leads the all-time series 5-4. Five of those games have been decided by one possession or less, including the last three regular season games.
Last season, the Panthers rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half before falling to the Blue Hens, 64-62, at the GSU Sports Arena on Jawan Carter's three-pointer at the buzzer.
Within the CAA, Georgia State stands in the top two in scoring offense, scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense, blocked shots, steals, turnover margin and assist/turnover ratio.
Fields is continuing to have a career-best season, averaging 10.1 points and 3.4 assists per game, the ninth most in the CAA. A member of the Bob Cousy Award Watch List, Fields is fourth in the CAA with a 1.6 assist/turnover ratio and third in steals, averaging 2.0 per game.
With the Panthers trailing by 10 on Wednesday night, Fields led the Panthers on a 10-2 run, scoring eight points during the stretch to cut the deficit to just two.
Buckner enters play averaging 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, shooting 61.2 percent from the floor, second in the CAA. He also leads the conference and is 14th in the NCAA with 3.1 blocks per contest.
Sophomore Devonta White continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game, while dishing out 3.3 assists per contest. White is fifth in the CAA with a 80.4 free throw percentage and fifth with a 1.5 assist/turnover ratio.
Redshirt-senior Jihad Ali is putting together a fine senior season, being used as both a starter and reserve. The Lithonia native is second on the team and 17th in the CAA in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game. Ali is also 13th in the CAA in rebounding, pulling down 5.8 boards per contest.
Georgia State will continue a stretch of five games in 11 days on Monday, returning home to face James Madison at 7 p.m. in the Sports Arena.
Fans can visit GeorgiaStateSports.com or call 1-866-GA-STATE to purchase tickets for the game or for tickets for the Panthers remaining six home games.
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