ATLANTA, GA -- Guard Brendan Tucker led the Panthers with 16 points, but ultimately fell 70-64 to Northern Illinois in the first matchup of the GSU Capitol Challenge on Friday afternoon at the GSU Convocation Center.
"For the first time this year, I think we lost a level of connectivity that is required for us to win," head coach Jonas Hayes said. "We have to get back to Georgia State Basketball, and I'm confident that we can do that."
The Georgia State men's basketball team kept Northern Illinois to just 20 percent from deep in a 4-for-20 shooting performance but fell 70-64 to the Huskies at home Friday.
The Panthers (1-2) had two players score in double figures, led by Brenden Tucker, who had 16 points. Lucas Taylor added 12 points and Jay'Den Turner added six points and 12 rebounds.
Led by Turner's six offensive rebounds, Georgia State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 18 boards that resulted in 18 second-chance points.
Georgia State's defense held Northern Illinois to only 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Panthers also limited David Coit to 2-of-10 shooting from downtown in the game. The Huskies did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with eight offensive rebounds and managed 10 second-chance points while Georgia State cleared 27 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 35-28, Georgia State went on a 6-0 run with 3:17 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Tucker, to narrow its deficit to 35-34, a score that would hold until halftime.
Northern Illinois kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 54-50 advantage before Georgia State went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Jamaine Mann's layup, to seize a 55-54 lead with 5:43 to go in the contest. Northern Illinois re-asserted control, outscoring the Panthers 16-9 the rest of the way to hand Georgia State the 70-64 loss. Georgia State got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 24 of its 30 total points.
Game Notes
» The Panthers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 61 percent of made baskets.
» The Georgia State bench came alive by adding 39 points to its scoring output.
» Georgia State turned the ball over just six times while dishing out 14 assists.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
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Brenden Tucker led the Panthers with 16 points.
» Georgia State got a game-high 12 rebounds from
Jay'Den Turner.
