ATLANTA-- After coming off of a three-game tournament at the Cancun Challenge, Georgia State opens December action continuing its month-long road swing at Mercer on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Georgia State and Mercer are meeting for the 56th time overall, and for the eighth season in a row. A long-standing series that began in 1990, The Panthers are 4-4 in the last decade against the Bears. The Panthers took home a victory in Macon in 2019-20, winning 73-61.
IN-STATE MATCHUPS
Georgia State faces six in-state opponents over two exhibitions, three non-conference contests and two SBC games.
As part of the I-75 Challenge, a newly adopted home-and-home series between Georgia State and Kennesaw State, the two teams will meet for the third consecutive season and the second on the road.
In a long-standing Georgia basketball tradition, Georgia State and Mercer will meet for the 46th time in program history, and the seventh time in six years.
The Panthers and Bears met at least twice a season for 17 consecutive seasons (1998-05), when both teams participated as part of the TAAC and A-Sun conferences.
THE DYNAMIC DUO
Jelani Hamilton and Malachi Brown, who both played in all 33 games last season, return for their second season with the Panthers.
Jelani Hamilton leads the Panthers averaging 16.3 ppg, and totals 2.3 rpg, 0.75 steals per game and 1.75 assists per game. His 32 free throws ranks sixth in the Sun Belt. His 94.1 free throw percentage helps the Panthers to a second-place ranking in the Sun Belt for free throw percentage. The redshirt sophomore led the team last season with 38 total steals and posted Georgia State's highest scoring mark of the season when he scored 32 against Taccoa Falls.
For the second consecutive year, Malachi Brown, who averages 10.4 ppg, leads the Panthers in assists with 3pg. He is also second on the team with nine steals. The Buford, Ga., native started 31 of the 33 games last season and put up 7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 3.4 apg, leading the team in total assists (111) and second in total steals (37).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Four of Georgia State's starting five consist of newcomers, including two veteran transfers and a freshman.
Sophomore Joah Chappelle, who is fourth on the Panthers' leaderboard with 9.9 ppg, leads the team defensively with 61 total rebounds. Averaging 7.6 rebounds per-game, Chappelle ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in total rebounds and third in rebounding average. Chappelle has led the Panthers in rebounding for five-of-eight games this season.
Sophomore Christian Beam is top 10 in the Sun Belt in blocking (9/ 1.13 pg).
Freshman Micah Tucker averages 11.1 ppg, He is second on the team with 2.1 assists per-game. He leads the team in steals with 12. Tucker Played at Overtime Elite and averaged 12 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 3.5 apg across 20 games.
Ayouba Berthe played his junior year at Minot State and averaged 13.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 1.7 apg.
OFF THE BENCH
The Panthers average 17.75 ppg off the bench, accounting for 28.2 percent of Georgia State's scoring.
Junior Anthony Enoh averages 6.0 ppg, accounting for 28.6-percent of the Panthers' points off the bench. He is fourth on the Panthers' squad in rebounding with 4.7 rpg.
Junior Isaiah Sherrard averages 2.1 ppg with eight rebounds and three steals and four blocks.
Graduate James Cooper transfers in from Oregon where he appeared in 28 games during his four years there.
Jakai Newton, who has also seen action as a starter throughout the season, averages 8.6 ppg and is second on the team in rebounding (5.0). Newton brings Power 4 experience, having spent two years at Indiana, where he saw action in four games before suffering a lower body injury. Coming out of high school, Newton was ranked as the 86th-best prospect by 247Sports.
The Panthers stay in Georgia to face Kenensaw State (Dec. 6) before returning home to host Jacksonville State on Dec. 13.
