ATLANTA -- Dwon Odom scored a season-high 24 points, including the deciding free throws with 7.8 seconds left, and Jay'Den Turner recorded a double with 13 points and a season-high 12 rebounds as Georgia State held off Arkansas State for a 91-90 victory in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

The Panthers (6-6, 1-0) had five players score in double figures, led by Odom, who went 8-for-12 from the field and 8-for-8 at the line, along with three assists, two steals and just one turnover for the GSU point guard. Lucas Taylor tacked on 16 points, followed by Turner with 13, Jamaine Mann with 12 and Toneari Lane with 10.

Georgia State built a 69-51 lead with 12:42 to play before Arkansas State (4-9, 0-1) began to chip away. A pair of free throws by Turner put the Panthers up 77-66 with 7:57 left, but then the Red Wolves reeled off eight straight points to pull within 77-74 at the 5:25 mark.

Odom sank two from the free throw line to give GSU an 84-79 advantage with 2:40 left, and then Turner added two more for an 86-79 lead at 2:16. After Avery Felts answered for Arkansas State with a 3-pointer, Taylor's floater with the shot clock running down made it 88-82 with 1:16 left. The Panthers led 89-86 when Felts' desperation, off-balance trey knotted the game at 89-all with 12 seconds left. Felts led the Red Wolves with 21 points.

Odom was fouled as he drove the ball up the court and again came through at the charity stripe, hitting a pair with 7.8 seconds left to give GSU a 91-89 lead. On the Red Wolves' final possession, Caleb Fields, who scored 20 points, was fouled on a drive with 2.5 seconds left. He made the first free throw but missed the second. 

On the rebound, Taylor dove on the floor for the loose ball and time appeared to expire, but the referees ruled a jump ball, giving Arkansas State one last chance to inbound the ball with 0.2 seconds left. Odom swatted away the inbounds pass, sealing the Panthers' win.

"That was a hard-fought victory," head coach Jonas Hayes said. "Give credit to Arkansas State for a ferocious comeback, but I thought tonight also represented the resiliency our team has acquired since June. There's no shame in bending, but you absolutely cannot break. We showed that tonight, and that's a sign of growing up for our team. 

"I couldn't more proud of the guys I have in our locker room. I believe in these guys, one through 13. I do think we have strength in numbers, and you're starting to see that as we get deeper into our season."

The Panthers ended the first half on a 14-2 run, capped by Taylor's step-back 3-pointer with four seconds left, to take a 50-39 lead into the locker room. 

Game Notes

» Jay'Den Turner had his second double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
» Georgia State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Five Georgia State players scored 10 or more points.
» Georgia State had a 40-31 edge on the boards in the win, including 15 offensive rebounds for the Panthers.
» Georgia State turned the ball just four times while dishing out 14 assists.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Dwon Odom led the Panthers with a season-high 24 points.
» The top free throw-shooting team in the Sun Belt, Georgia State went 23-for-28 from the charity stripe.