It took more than two halves for Georgia State to defeat Arkansas State for the second time this season, but the Panthers won their final road game of the season 79-76 Tuesday night in Jonesboro, Ark.
After a steadfast battle between the two teams, Georgia State started overtime with five unanswered points and made a defensive stand including a block from forward Curtis Washington. However, Kirk Van Slyke hit a three to shrink the Panthers’ lead to two with less than a minute left.
Devonta White was able to take the ball down court for the Panthers and make a jumper giving the Panthers a safe four-point lead. Free-throws by White and Atkins allowed the Panthers to maintain their lead and win their final road game of the season.
The game was late starting in Jonesboro, Ark. because of snow, sleet and ice in the area that caused the team to be stranded on the team’s bus. The team did not arrive until after 7 p.m. central time, after the game’s scheduled start time.
Head Coach Ron Hunter interrupted a post-game interview with Dave Cohen on the Georgia State Basketball Radio Network and said he could not be more proud of his team after sitting on a bus for 18 and a half hours. He added that he will be disappointed if the Panthers’ Senior Night on Saturday is not sold out.
Tuesday’s win was the Panthers’ third-consecutive road win, ending their road record at 10-6 after starting 0-5 on the road. The Panthers improved to 23-7 overall, 16-1 in the Sun Belt.
Shots beyond the arc dominated the second half as Manny Atkins made four in the second half to keep the Panthers in the game. The Panthers went 10-of-26 on 3-pointers and the Red Wolves shot 12-of-37 outside the arc.
Atkins finished with a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds giving him a double-double, his first of the season.
Manny Atkins missed a three late in the game but picked up his own rebound to dunk it and reduce the Red Wolves’ lead to 5 with less than five minutes remaining.
Trailing by three with just more than a minute to go, Harrow made a jumper making it a one-point game.
Cameron Golden attempted a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left, but it was off the mark as Washington battled for the rebound grabbing his sixth of the night. Washington finished with eight rebounds.
Atkins went to the line and made two free-throws to extend the Panthers lead to 69-66.
However, Melvin Johnson nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 69 with less than two seconds remaining and sent it to overtime, but the Red Wolves momentum could not be carried over into the extra time. Johnson scored 19 points for the Red Wolves.
The game began with an early 7-0 Red Wolves lead starting with a 3-pointer from Brandon Reed. The Panthers played catch up consistently keeping it a one-point game. Both teams slowed down late in the first half as there was almost five scoreless minutes until more than three minutes left in the first half.
Devonta White made a layup in the final two seconds of the half to make it a one possession game as the team’s went into the locker room and the Red Wolves led 30-27.
R.J. Hunter sat on the bench for Tuesday’s game and senior Rashaad Richardson started since the Panthers have already secured a No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt tournament.
“Rashaad Richardson has sacrificed so much this season, going from a 30-game starter to coming off the bench for us,” Ron Hunter told Georgia State Athletics before the game. “This is a great opportunity for me to reward him for all of his hard work and dedication to our team.”
Richardson scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Harrow and White finished in double-figures with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
Tuesday was the second time this season the Panthers defeated Arkansas State in overtime. The first time was Jan. 16 as the Panthers defeated the Red Wolves 73-72 (See Panthers extend winning streak in final seconds).
The Panthers finally come home after being on the road for eight-consecutive days to finish their regular season against Western Kentucky Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
