The Georgia State men’s basketball team became Sun Belt champions with a 66-55 victory over Texas State Saturday night in San Marcos, Texas.
In its first season in the Sun Belt Conference after leaving the Colonial Athletic Association last summer, the men’s basketball team has been able to win all of its played conference games except its second game to Troy to make its conference record 15-1.
The Panthers’ last regular season conference title was in the 2001-02 season in the Atlantic Sun Conference. That season was the last time the Panthers made it to the NIT Postseason Tournament.
The Panthers are the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and get two byes before starting their run in the semifinals. The tournament is in New Orleans March 13-16.
The Panthers had a 23-22 lead at halftime, even though the Bobcats held the Panthers to the least amount of points they have scored in the first half this season.
The Panthers went on a routine 12-4 run mid-way through the second half to extend their lead, but the Bobcats threatening late in the game as the Panthers got into foul trouble.
The Bobcats had seven made free-throws followed by a layup by Phil Hawkins to make it a four-point game as Georgia State answered with no points.
However, a technical foul on Texas State’s Emani Gant put R.J. Hunter up at the line, and Hunter made three free-throws giving the momentum back to Georgia State. The Panthers went on to defeat the Bobcats for the second time this season.
All of the Panthers’ starters, except for Marcus Crider, finished in double-figures in points. Hunter scored a game-high 18 points.
Marcus Crider started for the second time this season in place of Curtis Washington after having three-consecutive games in double-figures. Crider went 0-for-3 from the floor and scored two points from the line. Washington came off the bench and scored six points and seven rebounds.
Hawkins was the only player for the Bobcats to score over double-figures scoring 11.
The Panthers end their long road trip Tuesday against Arkansas State at 8 p.m. before coming home to face Western Kentucky to end the regular season.
