Georgia State can’t hold late lead, falls to Mercer for sixth consecutive loss

Georgia State (4-9) got 20 points from Cesare Edwards and 14 points apiece from Zarique Nutter and Malachi Brown. Jelani Hamilton came off the bench to score 11.

Mercer (7-6) was led by graduate transfer Ahmad Robinson, who had 21 points and 10 assists, and former Cedar Shoals standout Tyler Johnson, who scored 19 points.

“We’re disappointed,” Hayes said. “It’s my responsibility to keep everybody understanding that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The only thing you can control is how you show up every day and prep and prepare for each opportunity. We’re not having success at the moment, so a lot of it is picking guys up, encouraging them to keep showing up. It has to turn. Man, it has to turn at some point in time. I really believe in what we’re doing.”

With 17 conference games remaining, the Panthers are trying still to find the right combination on the court. Hayes continues to mix and match pieces and found some success with Edwards down low Saturday.

The 6-foot-10 senior transfer from Missouri State was effective on the blocks and made 9 of 15 shots from the floor, but he picked up his fourth foul with 11:41 and had to sit out a chunk of time.

“We knew they weren’t doubling him as much as some teams in the past, and we knew we were going to try to get the ball in his hands in many different spots, and he was able to operate,” Hayes said. “I thought he played well.”

But Georgia State, a 67% shooting team from the line, made only 6 of 14 free throws, including the front end of two one-and-ones.

“We missed eight and lost by three, so that plays a part into it,” Hayes said.

On Saturday, the Panthers trailed by nine with 11:38 remaining but found a way to get back in the game with defense and timely shooting. Georgia State held Mercer scoreless for 5:14 and went on a 14-0 run to take a 61-56 lead with 6:27 remaining.

But the Bears leaned on the experience of Robinson, and he sparked an 11-3 run and a 67-64 lead. The teams exchanged punches until Robinson made a careless pass that GSU’s Edwards recovered with 38 seconds left, his team down by a point.

The Panthers methodically worked the clock and wound up with Nutter missing a jumper. Brown rebounded the loose ball and missed the follow before the ball bounced out of bounds.

With no timeouts remaining, GSU had to foul and Johnson made both free throws. The Panthers rushed for a final shot and Brown’s off-balance 3-point shot missed at the horn.