GEORGIA STATE (0-1) at WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-1)
Saturday, Nov. 11  |  1 p.m. ET  | University Arena

TV: ESPN+

Georgia State's home opener is Friday, Nov. 17, when the Panthers host Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center in the first game of the Capitol Challenge. For season and single-game tickets, visit GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX

THE TIPOFF: After showing plenty of positives, especially on the offensive end, in its season opener, Georgia State plays its second straight road game at Western Michigan Saturday at 1 p.m. in Kalamazoo. 

> The game at Western Michigan is the first leg of the inaugural Sun Belt-MAC Challenge. Georgia State will host a to-be-determined MAC foe on Feb. 10 in the second half of the Challenge.

> The Panthers' new-look lineup shot 49 percent from the field, including 7-for-19 from 3-point range, in the 89-87 loss at Belmont in Monday's season opener. Graduate transfers Jay'Den Turner and Leslie Nkereuwem combined for 23 points on 11-for-14 shooting with 15 rebounds and five steals. The balanced attack saw seven players score nine or more points, including four in double-figures, and the Panthers committed just seven turnovers.

> Turner, the transfer from Queens, recorded a double-double in his GSU debut with 12 points and 11 rebounds along with two assists and three steals. Nkereuwem (Longwood) scored 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting with four rebounds and two steals. Wake Forest transfer Lucas Taylor scored 12 points and Winthrop transfer Toneari Lane added nine points.

> Preseason All-Sun Belt guards Dwon Odom and Brenden Tucker, the Panthers' top returning scorers, also had strong contributions in the opener. Odom had nine points, five rebounds and six assists with no turnovers in 27 minutes, while Tucker scored 10 points. 

> Sophomore big man Edward Nnamoko scored a career-high nine points and grabbed five rebounds in just 14 minutes.

> Western Michigan is also coming off a narrow loss, falling 80-76 in overtime to North Dakota State in its opener.

> Georgia State and WMU are meeting for just the second time. The Broncos won the only previous game, 61-59 in Atlanta on Dec. 11, 2010.

ADDING EXPERIENCE: Head coach Jonas Hayes and his staff have rebuilt the GSU roster with addition of six transfers and two freshmen. 

> The six-pack of transfers includes experienced graduate transfers Leslie Nkereuwem (Longwood) and Jay'Den Turner (Queens). That duo combined to play in 219 games with 1,657 points and 1,124 points between them over the last four seasons. 

> Nkereuwem averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds at Longwood in 2022-23.

> Last season at Queens, Turner led the Atlantic Sun Conference with 7.5 rebounds per game while scoring 8.4 ppg.

> Sophomore Toneari Lane averaged 10.3 points 2.4 rebounds in 34 games at Winthrop last season, while sophomore Rickey Bradley Jr. started 27 of 31 games at VMI, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds.