In a matchup that was built as a clash of mid˗major powers at the Sports Arena on Thursday night, Georgia State men’s basketball prevailed over the Wisconsin˗Green Bay Phoenix by a final of 72˗48 to improve their record to 6˗2 on the season.
“If you would have told me this group would be 6˗2 after eight games, we’ll take it,” head coach Ron Hunter said after the game.
This game would begin with both teams exchanging the first four points each. After being knotted up at four, T.J. Shipes contributed four points to lead a 6˗0 run as the Georgia State advantage grew to 10˗4. Keifer Sykes then brought Green Bay within four at 10˗6 prior to another Panthers 9˗0 run that included seven points from R.J. Hunter to increase the Georgia State lead to 19˗6.
Khalil Smith them made a three to bring the Phoenix back within 10 at 19˗9.
With the Georgia State lead maintained at 21˗11, two˗pointers from Shipes and Ryan Harrow along with a Ware three contributed to a 7˗1 Panthers as the lead became 28˗12. The lone Green Bay basket would come courtesy of a free throw from Kenneth Lowe after Markus Crider was called for a foul.
A dunk by Lowe along with a layup by Alfonzo McKinnie brought Phoenix within 28˗16 before another three pointer by Hunter made it 31˗16.
Daeshon Francis contributed a layup shortly after being inserted into the game by Green Bay. The Panthers would end the half with an 11˗0 capped by a long three˗point shot from Hunter as the score was 42˗18 in favor of Georgia State heading into halftime.
Green Bay came out of the gate strong in the second half scoring eight straight points including a pair of three˗pointers as they trimmed their deficit to 42˗26, prompting a timeout from the Panthers.
Hunter then made a couple of free throws after being fouled by Lowe to end the Green Bay run prior to a Sykes three to make the score 44˗29.
With the score at 45˗30 in favor of the Panthers, Hunter made two more free throws after being fouled by McKinnie. McKinnie was then fouled by Hunter in which he made a pair of free throws before a three by Hunter made the score 50˗32.
Another McKinzie layup was followed by a 10˗0 Georgia State run that featured five more from Hunter as he upped his point total to 24 to make the tally 60˗34 in favor of the Panthers. With the score at 60˗35, Georgia State embarked on another 6˗0 run to bring the score to 66˗35.
Three consecutive made free throws by Green Bay was then followed by three straight points from Crider that included a free throw and a made layup as the score became 69˗38.
The Panthers’ 31 point lead would be maintained as the score became 72˗41 prior to four straight points from Khalil Small. The 7˗0 run Green Bay closed on would not be near enough as their deficit was insurmountable at this point with the Panthers winning 72˗48.
After a two˗week layoff due to finals, the men’s basketball team will take the court on Dec. 17 as they head back on the road against Old Dominion.
| Georgia State | Green Bay |
|---|---|
| Hunter: 26 points, 6˗16 shooting | Sykes: 16 points, 5˗15 shooting |
| Harrow: 17 points, 7˗16 | Small: 7 points |
| Shipes: 11 points, 11 rebounds |
