BOONE, NC -- Georgia State fell 76-68 at Appalachian State Wednesday at the Holmes Convocation Center.

Lucas Taylor and Brenden Tucker led the Panthers (9-8, 4-2) with 12 points each. Jay'Den Turner added eight points, 12 rebounds and two steals, recording his sixth straight game with double-figure rebounds.

Georgia State fell behind 39-30 at the half and still trailed 49-38 with 14 minutes left before tying the game for the first time at 53-all on Turner's 3-pointer with 9:24 to play. 

App State (14-4, 5-1) managed to build its lead back up to nine points before back-to-back 3-pointers by Taylor and Julian Mackey pulled the Panthers within 63-60 with 3:10 left, but Georgia State could get no closer.

Mackey gave the Panthers a spark off the bench with nine points in the second half, all from beyond the arc.

The difference in the game was App State's size and physicality as the Mountaineers scored 48 points in the paint and outrebounded GSU 51-36, including 17 offensive rebounds.

"We had no answer for the inside game," head coach Jonas Hayes said. "They are a helluva team and an extremely physical team. Our guys didn't back down, but we just didn't have quite enough. 

"We're going to get that corrected and keep moving forward."

Playing four straight games on the road, Georgia State faces Georgia Southern for the second straight week Saturday in Statesboro at 3 p.m. after downing the Eagles 9-62 last Saturday at home.