MONROE, La. --Malachi Brown and Micah Tucker both totaled 20 points to lead the Georgia State men's basketball team to a 77-57 win over ULM on the road Saturday afternoon.

In addition to Brown and Tucker's combined 40-points, Jelani Hamilton notched 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to pace the Panthers. Brown tacked on five assists and Tucker added four assists..

The Panthers win was highlighted by an outstanding 39-18 second half, and Georgia State's defense held UL Monroe shooters to only 33.9 percent from the field, to solidify the contest. Georgia State did a stellar job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 20 assists while turning the ball over nine times. Hamilton's eight assists paced the Panthers.

How It Happened

After falling behind 5-3, Georgia State went on a 7-0 run with 17:02 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from James Cooper, to take a 10-5 lead. Freshman Micah Tucker drained three straight 3-pointers to help the Panthers keep a lead, But Georgia State surrendered that lead in the last minute of the half, entering halftime down 39-38.

ULM kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 44-41 advantage before Georgia State went on a 24-0 run, finished off by Brown's three, to seize a 65-44 lead with 11:18 to go in the contest. The Panthers totaled a 26-0 run over six minutes of the contest to run away with the game. 

The Warhawks narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Panthers still cruised the rest of the way for the 77-57 win. Georgia State shot lights-out well three-point range in the half, hitting nine shots from deep to score 27 of its 39 points.
 

Game Notes

» The Panthers shot 42.1 percent,, knocking down 16-of-38 long range attempts.
» The Panthers held the Warhawks to only 33.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Panthers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 74 percent of made field goals.
» Malachi Brown and Micah Tucker each knocked down six threes to lead a Georgia State shooting attack that had two players sink five or more shots from beyond the arc.
» Georgia State had a 39-38 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team.
» Georgia State turned the ball over nine times while dishing out 20 assists.
» Malachi Brown had a game-high 20 points and Micah Tucker added 20.
» Georgia State got a team-high nine rebounds from Jelani Hamilton.

The Panthers return to Atlanta to host a two-game home stint, tipping off with Southern Miss on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m.