By Zach Smith. ATLANTA, Ga. — App State traveled to Atlanta Thursday night (Feb. 1) looking to extend their win streak to seven games. The Mountaineers were successful, defeating Georgia State, 81-71 — to clinch the team’s third sweep of a Sun Belt Conference opponent.
While junior guard Terence Harcum scored a team-high 22 points for App State, sophomore forward Justin Abson was arguably the Mountaineers’ player of the game. Abson posted a season-high 15 points to go along with a career-best 16 rebounds. Once again, Abson’s dominance in the defensive paint was on display as he blocked seven Panther shots.
Georgia State was led by junior guard Lucas Taylor’s 14-point display, while four other Panthers scored at least 10 points. Jay’Den Turner (13), Leslie Nkereuwem (13), Dwon Odom (10) and Julian Mackey (10) rounded out the Panthers’ scoring effort.
Entering Thursday’s contest, App State had won six games in a row to sit atop the Sun Belt standings and looked to win their ninth conference game on the season. Georgia State looked to stop App State’s streak, aiming to put an end to their own four-game skid.
Neither side had an edge in the first half. Georgia State held a two-point lead over the Mountaineers at the second media timeout, but App State made adjustments at the break. Following a made shot in the paint for both sides, junior forward Christopher Mantis led the Mountaineers to a 8-0 run, scoring all but two of App State’s points in that span. Georgia State wouldn’t give up easily, though, as they later scored the final six points of the period, tying the game at 30 apiece at the halftime buzzer.
App State appeared to be a different team out of the locker room for the second half. The Mountaineers went on a 14-2 run over the first 4:32 of the period. Georgia State never got within seven points over the remaining 15:28, and App State cemented their ninth Sun Belt win of the season.
As a team, the Mountaineers shot at a 44% clip, compared to Georgia State’s 38% mark. App State won the rebound battle, 49-41, and committed just nine fouls to the Panthers’ 16. Anchored by Abson’s presence in the paint, the Mountaineers improved on their NCAA-best 7.0 blocks per game with nine swatted shots.
Georgia State kicked off one of the toughest stretches of their season in the loss to App State. Beginning with Thursday’s contest, the Panthers face each of the top four teams in the Sun Belt over a five-game span. Georgia State’s next matchup is a home battle with second-place Troy. Tipoff is set for Saturday (Feb. 3) at 4:00p.m., and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
App State looks to match their eight game win streak Saturday, as they travel to Statesboro, Ga. for a heated rivalry date with Georgia Southern. The matchup is slated to tipoff at 3:00p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
