Late Run Not Enough as Panthers Fall to App State 61-60

Box Score ATLANTA-Georgia State held Appalachian State to just one field goal over the final 7:09, but that one field goal came with 1.4 seconds to play, a Justin Forrest jumper, to give the Mountaineers a 61-60 win over the Panthers on Thursday night at the GSU Sports Arena.

Trailing 55-43 with 7:09 to play, Georgia State (6-8, 0-3 Sun Belt) used a 12-0 run to tie the game with just under four minutes to play. Holding App State to just four free throws over the next 3:34, the Panthers took the lead on a Justin Roberts jumper with 14.8 seconds to play, before Forrest's game winner. The loss was the fourth-straight for the Panthers.

Appalachian State (11-9, 5-2 Sun Belt) was led by Adrian Delph who scored 29 points, knocking down five 3-pointers, while Michael Almonacy added 10.

The Panthers were led by senior Corey Allen who scored 16 points, while Roberts finished with 13 points and five assists. Senior Eliel Nsoseme and junior Jalen Thomas each pulled down 11 rebounds for GSU which outrebounded the Mountaineers 39-26.

Georgia State got off to a red-hot start making five of its first six field goals to take an 11-7 lead at the first media timeout. Roberts 3-point to open the game gave him 1,000 points for his career.

Appalachian State responded with a 16-0 run while holding the Panthers scoreless for more than five minutes to take a 23-13 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half.

The Panthers used a late 6-0 run with a three-point play from Roberts and a 3-pointer from Evan Johnson to cut the Mountaineer lead to just 31-27 with under three minutes to play. Johnson finished the night with nine points.

Appalachian State went into the locker room with a 35-27 lead after shooting 58.3 percent from the floor, while holding GSU to 40.7 percent shooting and just 2-of-9 from 3-point range.

The Mountaineers took a 40-29 lead with 17:35 to play before being held scoreless for more than five minutes, however, Georgia State was only able to respond with four points to cut the deficit to seven. App State immediately responded with eight-straight points to go back ahead by 14.

With Appalachian State leading 55-43 with 7:09 to play, Georgia State responded with 12-0 run capped by an Allen jumper to tie the game 55-55 with just under four minutes to play setting up a crazy ending in the GSU Sports Arena.

Game Notes

Georgia State and Appalachian State were meeting for the first of two games this season and the 17th time overall.
Georgia State has a 47-19 (.691) record in the month of January since the start of the 2013-14 season.
With Roberts reaching 1,000 career points, he now gives the Panthers three players on the roster (Kane Williams and Corey Allen) with at least 1,000 points for their careers.

Georgia State will remain at home to host Coastal Carolina on Saturday at 2 p.m., as the second game of a doubleheader with women's basketball. The game will air live on ESPN+ and the GSU Mobile App.

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Players Mentioned

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

Eliel Nsoseme: F; 6' 9"; Junior

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

#25 Jalen Thomas: F; 6' 10"; Freshman

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

Eliel Nsoseme
: 6' 9"; Junior
: F

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

#25 Jalen Thomas
: 6' 10"; Freshman
: F

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

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