Men's Basketball Tops High Point 74-66 in OT to Win Legends Classic

Kane Williams Named Tournament MVP

Box Score HIGH POINT, N.C.-Kane Williams and Ja'Heim Hudson each recorded double-doubles as Georgia State topped High Point 74-66 in overtime to win the Legends Classic on Sunday afternoon at the Qubein Center.

Williams, who earned Tournament MVP honors, finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three steals while play nearly 43 minutes. The "super" senior recorded his second career double-double and earned his second Tournament MVP honors after garnering the same award at the 2K Empire Classic in 2019.

Williams also became just the fourth player in program history with 400 career assists. He also tied the school record being a part of his 87^th win and now needs just one more to hold the record outright.

Hudson earned his first career double-double finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds as the freshman went 4-of-5 from the floor while blocking four shots.

Justin Roberts earned all-tournament recognition after leading Georgia State (4-1) with 25 points and five rebounds in the win. The senior stepped up going 10-of-14 from the free throw line.

The Panthers have started the season 4-1 for a second-straight season despite shooting just 36.1 percent from the floor.

High Point (2-3) was led by Zach Austin who finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while John-Michael Wright and Jaden House each scored 17 points.

High Point used an early 10-0 run to take a 12-4 lead just 4:32 into the game, however Georgia State quickly responded and tied the game 15-15 following a 3-pointer from the corner by redshirt-junior Nelson Phillips.

A 7-0 run capped by a Williams lay-up and free throw gave Georgia State a 23-20 lead with 7:02 to play.

Georgia State went into the locker room with a 36-30 lead after forcing High Point into 10 first half turnovers which led to 10 GSU points, while also holding HPU scoreless the final 2:13 of the half.

A made free throw by Williams pushed Georgia State's lead to 47-38 with 13:50 to play before the Panthers were held scoreless for 3:22 and High Point cut GSU's lead to just two.

However, a 3-pointer from Roberts put Georgia State back ahead by five, 50-45, with 10:28 to play. High Point would cut Georgia State's lead to two points three times, before a 3-pointer by John-Michael Wright gave HPU its first lead of the second half.

The lead for High Point would be short-lived as Williams came right back down the court and his lay-up put the Panthers back ahead 57-56 with 4:43 to play.

Both teams showed tired legs the final five minutes of the game, and tied at 59-59, Roberts had a lay-up at the buzzer that just didn't drop sending the game to overtime.

After Emmanuel Izunabor knocked down for free throw for High Point to start overtime, Georgia State scored five straight points capped by a 3-pointer by Roberts.

HPU followed with a jumper before an Evan Johnson 3-pointer gave the Panthers a 67-62 lead with 1:44 to play. Georgia State went 7-of-9 from the free throw line in overtime to secure the win.

Phillips finished with five points and six rebounds, while Johnson came off the bench to finish with seven points.

Game Notes
• Georgia State was making its ninth appearance in an MTE in the last 11 years.
• The Panthers are 17-14 in MTE events since the start of the 2011-12 season.
• Since the start of the 2013-14 season, GSU has won more games (173) than any other NCAA Division I team in Georgia.

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Players Mentioned

#0 Evan Johnson: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#2 Justin Roberts: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#12 Kane Williams: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#15 Ja'Heim Hudson: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#0 Evan Johnson
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Justin Roberts
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#12 Kane Williams
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#15 Ja'Heim Hudson
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F