Panthers Hold On, Defeat Charlotte 81-78 in Overtime

Four Panthers finished in double figures as Georgia State held on in overtime play to defeat the Charlotte 49ers by a score of 81-78 on Wednesday afternoon at the GSU Sports Arena.

A balanced offensive production proved fruitful for Georgia State, with nine Panthers making their way onto the stat sheet. The Panthers shared the ball well, with Kane Williams contributing 7 assists and four of his teammates adding another 7. Georgia State shot 50% from the floor, including 55% from behind the arc. But it was the bench players who made the difference in the game. Georgia State’s bench contributed 18 points to Charlotte’s 7, with freshman Jalen Thomas (8pts, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist) being a key element of the Georgia State defense.

Both teams struggled with streaky offenses most of the game, with several extended scoring droughts and periods of poor shot selection. The last few minutes of regulation saw renewed offensive energy from both teams and resulted in a fight to the finish, sending the game to overtime tied at 74.

But Georgia State would win out in overtime, putting up a dominant 75% overall percentage of field goals including one three-pointer from Corey Allen that put the Panthers up 79-78 with 1:46 to go. Allen would go on to score the final points with a layup under a minute to go. A final 3-point effort by Charlotte’s Jamir Young was no good, and that was all it took for the Panthers to emerge with a victory.

This victory marks the end of a 25-game losing to Charlotte in the first time these two teams have played since 2006. The Panthers will return a visit to the 49ers next season.

The Panthers are back in action Tuesday night against Dartmouth at the GSU Sports Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00pm.