Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face Charlotte in Wednesday Matinee

Chris Clerkley

ATLANTA-Following a stretch of five-straight games away from home, Georgia State returns to the GSU Sports Arena to face Charlotte in a 2 p.m. Wednesday matinee. It will mark the 29^th time the two schools meet on the hardwood, but the first since 2006.

Georgia State (3-3) has won two straight games after taking the Riverside Regional of the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project over the weekend. The Panthers enter the game on a seven-game home-court winning streak dating back to last season after winning the regular season opener at home earlier this month.

Charlotte (2-2) has picked up home wins over Davidson and Wake Forest this season but also dropped a pair of road decisions to James Madison and Appalachian State.

Wednesday's contest can be heard live on GeorgiaStateSports.com with Dave Cohen, now in his 37^th year as the Voice of the Panthers, being joined by former Panther Lamont McIntosh calling the action. The game will also air live on ESPN+ with Sam Crenshaw and Rodney Turner on the call. Live statistics and live audio will be available at GeorgiaStateSports.com and on most mobile devices.

Last time out Georgia State held California Baptist without a field goal over the final 7:32 and overcame a 14-point second half deficit to earn a 69-60 win. Junior Kane Williams was named the 2K Empire Classic Tournament MVP, while redshirt-sophomore Justin Roberts earned All-Tournament recognition.

Williams, who earned All-Sun Belt Preseason Second Team honors is currently averaging 14.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range.

Roberts is third on the team averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while averaging a team-high 31.9 minutes per contest.

"As a program we have probably played as many true road games as anyone in the country," head coach Rob Lanier said. "We have been tested and tested some of the best programs in the country. With that said, it is good to be back at home as we get ready to face a very well coach Charlotte team on Wednesday."

Redshirt-junior Corey Allen currently leads the Panthers in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game. He finished with 28 points in the final two games of the 2K Empire Classic.

Lanier, in his first season leading the Panthers, is building a defense that is holding opponents to just 36.0 percent shooting which ranks No. 26 in the nation, while teams are shooting just 25.2 percent from 3-point range which ranks No. 20 in the country.

Notes:

Over the last six-plus seasons, Georgia State has put together a 9-4 record against members of Conference USA.
Georgia State and Charlotte were former foes in the Sun Belt Conference and met 17 times during the 1970's.
With a 3-pointer last Saturday, Georgia State has made at least one 3-pointer in 754 games dating back to Feb. 18, 1995.
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Panthers have won 137 games, the most of any NCAA Division 1 program in the state of Georgia.

Following Wednesday afternoon's game, Georgia State will remain at home and host Dartmouth on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/Tix or by calling 404-413-4020 during normal business hours.

Quick Notes:
•   Georgia State and Charlotte will meet for the 29th time, though it will be the first time since 2006.
•   The Panthers and the 49'ers were Sun Belt Conference foes and met 17 times during the 1970's.
•   GSU is coming off a weekend where the Panthers won the Riverside Regional of the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project with wins over Prairie View A&M and California Baptist.
•   In the win over California Baptist, the Panthers trailed by 14 points with less than 13 minutes to play, but held the Lancers without a field goal over the final 7:32 en route to a 69-60 win.
•   Junior Kane Williams was named Tournament MVP of the 2K Empire Classic after he averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the two games.
•   Redshirt-sophomore Justin Roberts earned 2K Empire Classic All-Tournament recognition after scoring 28 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists in the two games.
•   Following the opening night win over Brewton-Parker, the Panthers have won seven-straight home games dating back to last year.
•   Over the last six-plus seasons, Georgia State has put together a 9-4 record against teams from Conference USA.
•   Redshirt-junior Chris Clerkley has set career-highs for minutes played in each of the last two games. He has already scored 10 points this season, one more than the nine from his first three years.
•   With the opening night win, Rob Lanier became the first Georgia State head coach to win their debut since the 1981-82 season when Jim Jarrett won his debut. Lanier previously served as the Associate Head Coach at Tennessee.
•   Last year, Georgia State made its second-straight and third NCAA Tournament in the last five years, the best stretch in program history.
•   Since returning to the Sun Belt in 2013-14, Georgia State has finished in the top two of the final regular season conference standings five times in six seasons.
•   During that same time frame, Georgia State has won more games (137) than any other NCAA Division I team in Georgia.
•   Junior Kane Williams was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team. He finished last year earning Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament recognition.
•   Williams is one of just nine active juniors in the country to have won conference tournaments in each of their first two years and appeared in NCAA Tournament games.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#14 Chris Clerkley: F; 6' 8"; Senior

#2 Justin Roberts: G; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#12 Kane Williams: G; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#11 Corey Allen
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#14 Chris Clerkley
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F

#2 Justin Roberts
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#12 Kane Williams
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G