TROY, Ala. — Georgia State (9-12, 4-5 SBC) poured in 44 points from thee bench, but couldn't overcome the Troy Trojans (16-4, 7-2 SBC), falling 96-69 Saturday afternoon inside the Trojan Arena.
The Panthers placed four players in double figures, led by Crystal Henderson's 17-point effort. Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu added 12 points and two steals off the bench, while Nari Powers chipped in 11 points and six rebounds in reserve minutes.
Powers was active on the glass, pulling down three offensive rebounds to help Georgia State generate second-chance opportunities. The Panthers turned 11 offensive boards into 12 second-chance points.
Defensively, Georgia State forced 20 Troy turnovers while committing just 11 of its own. Those takeaways translated into 19 points, with Cheyenne Holloman pacing the effort with three steals.
How It Happened
After trailing 16-12, Georgia State went on a 5-0 run with 3:23 remaining in the first quarter to take a 17-16 lead. The Panthers were unable to hold it, however, entering the second quarter down 24-23.
Troy steadily extended its advantage, pushing the lead to 50-34 before Georgia State answered with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 50-41. The Trojans quickly responded, reclaiming momentum and taking a 52-41 edge into halftime.
The second half saw Troy continue to pull away, with the Panthers facing an 87-56 deficit heading into the fourth quarter. Georgia State found some success inside, scoring eight of its 15 points in the paint.
Late in the game, the Panthers briefly closed the gap, trimming the score to 90-61 before an 8-0 run brought them within 90-69 with 2:11 remaining. Troy countered and outscored Georgia State the rest of the way, ultimately claiming a 96-69 victory. Georgia State capitalized on eight Troy turnovers in the final quarter, converting five points off those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Georgia State knocked down eight treys in the game.
» The Georgia State bench came alive by adding 44 points to its scoring output.
» Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu and Nari Powers came off the bench to score 12 and 11 points.
» The Georgia State defense forced 20 turnovers.
» Georgia State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Crystal Henderson led the Panthers with 17 points.
» Georgia State got a team-high six rebounds from Nari Powers.
Up Next
The Panthers return to the Convo to host the Arkansas State Red Wolves for Education Day. Tip off is set for Thursday, Jan. 29 at 11 am.
