ELON, N.C.-Redshirt-junior Ryan Harrow scored a career-high 34 points and the Panthers hit 58.8 percent from 3-point range, but Elon knocked down 15 3-pointers to earn a 90-85 win over Georgia State on Tuesday night in the final game of the NIT Season Tipoff.
Harrow scored the most points in a game for the Panthers since R.J. Hunter scored 38 against Old Dominion last season. The transfer from Kentucky finished 13-of-26 from the floor and dished out four assists. In the two games at Elon, Harrow scored 57 points.
Georgia State (2-4) hit 10-of-17 from 3-point range and shot 53.3-percent from the floor, but Elon (3-4) was just a little better, making 15-of-24 3-pointers and shooting 56.3-percent from the floor. The Phoenix pulled away at the end of the game, making 21-of-26 from the free throw line.
Redshirt-junior Curtis Washington added 17 points for the Panthers, scoring 15 in the first half. Following his first double-double on Monday night, Washington returned to the starting line-up to add seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
“We are still trying to find ourselves defensively, but I feel better than I felt after Monday night's game,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “I thought we responded well, but we are being tested right now on this six-game road trip. I thought we really fought against a team that is supposed to win the Southern Conference.
“Ryan really stepped up, especially in the second half when we needed him as R.J. was a little banged up. He gave us everything he could. I really think what we are trying to is coming, we just have to keep working.”
Five Elon players scored in double-figures, led by Lucas Troutman who scored 19 points, making 7-of-9 free throws. Tanner Samson and Sebastian Koch added 15 points each, while Austin Hamilton scored 13.
For the second straight night, the Panthers outscored their opponents 42-18 in the paint.
Trailing 20-14 midway thru the first half, the Panthers responded and held the Phoenix scoreless for 3:30, going on a 12-0 run to take a 26-20 lead with 7:39 to play.
Georgia State led 44-41 at the half, making 6-of-7 from 3-point range. Elon knocked down 7-of-13 from 3-point range as both teams shot more than 56-percent from the floor to open the game.
Elon held Georgia State scoreless for more than five minutes early in the second half and went on a 9-0 run to take a 62-54 lead with just under 10 minutes to play.
The Panthers responded with a 10-1 run of its own, spurred by eight points from Harrow, to take a 64-63 lead with 8:24 to play.
The two teams combined for 13 lead changes, seven of which came in the second half.
Senior Manny Atkins finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers.
Jack Isenbarger added 12 points off the bench for Elon.
Georgia State will return to action on Saturday concluding its six-game road trip at FIU in Miami, Fla. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
