ATLANTA-- Georgia State looks to bounce back against James Madison after Thursday's loss Marshall.
Georgia State and James Madison are meeting for the 17th time in program history. The Panthers are 8-8 in the series after falling 78-84 to the Dukes on Feb. 28, 2024.
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TOP STORY LINES:
> The Panthers hit a 3-0 win streak at home after defeating Louisiana (Jan. 4), Georgia Southern (OT win, Jan. 8) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 11).
PANTHERS IN THE SUN BELT
> Led by Nick McMullen, who is second in the conference and ranks 12th nationally in rebounds per-game, the Panthers' 38.9 rebounds per-game ranks fourth in the Sun Belt.
> Nick McMullen is second in the Sun Belt in every rebounding category, including total rebounds (202, ranks 7th nationally), rebounds per-game (10.1, ranks 11th nationally), defensive rebounds per-game (6.45, ranks 29th nationally) and offensive rebounds (3.65, ranks 11th nationally).
KEY RETURNERS: In a rebuild off-season for the Panthers' basketball team, head coach Jonas Hayes retained five returners from the 2023-24 squad, including Toneari Lane, Malik Ferguson, DK Dut, Brevyn Coleman and Aaron Oh.
> The Panthers key returner Toneari Lane is Georgia State's second-leading scorer with 14.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 35 assists.
> The Veteran Guard is fourth in the Sun Belt in three pointers per-game with 2.65. His 30.3 three-point percentage ranks sixth overall in the conference. He also ranks fourth overall in three-pointers made, totaling 53.
VETERAN TRANSFER SQUAD: Head coach Jonas Hayes and his staff have rebuilt the GSU roster with addition of seven transfers and four freshmen.
> The transfer squad brings experienced veteran players including Justin Archer (graduate, Radford), Cesare Edwards (senior, Missouri State), Zarique Nutter (senior, Northern Illinois), Darnell Evans (senior, Caldwell) and Nick McMullen (senior, UNC-Asheville).
> Northern Illinois transfer Zarique Nutter is tied for the Panthers' leading scorer with 14.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 38 assists.
> Nutter's 14.4 ppg ranks tied for ninth in the conference.
> Nutter is also seventh in the conference for free throws with 68.
> Senior Cesare Edwards is tied for first on the Panthers' leaderboard with 14.7 ppg, and is second in rebounding with 6.9 rpg. He totals 19 assists, 26 blocks and 11 steals on the season.
> Edwards' 14.7 ppg ranks tied for eighth in the conference.
> Edwards ranks fourth in the conference in double-doubles after tallying five double-doubles so far.
> Senior Nick McMullen leads the Panthers defensively, totaling 202 rebounds so far this season, which is second in the Sun Belt. His 10.1 rebounds per game is also second in the Sun Belt and ranks 12th nationally.
> McMullen averages 9.8 ppg.
> McMullen is also second in the conference and ranks 34th nationally in double-doubles, totaling six. He grabbed his first in the Panthers' season-opener against Ball State (Nov. 4). He recorded his second against North Carolina Central (Nov. 22). Most notably, McMullen put up 22 points and 14 rebounds in the Panthers' first conference win over Louisiana (Jan. 4).
Georgia State hits the road to Marshall on Jan. 30.
