Georgia State’s latest attempt to play come-from-behind basketball came up empty on Wednesday.
The Panthers trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half and could get only as close as eight points in the second half in a 94-80 loss to Texas State in San Marcos, Texas. The setback ended GSU’s three-game winning streak.
“The effort is there, but our concentration and our intelligence is sometimes lacking,” Georgia State coach Jonas Hayes said. “We’ve just got to finish plays, finish possessions. We expect it to be tough on the road,” Hayes said. “You don’t have a chance if you’re not committed to finishing possessions with defensive rebounds. That stands out like a sore thumb.”
Georgia State trailed Coastal Carolina by 16 on Saturday and came back to win. The Panthers trailed by a modest six points against Georgia Southern before responding with a win. But Texas State, loser of four of its last five games, played with desperation in its first home game since Dec. 29.
Georgia State (7-11, 3-3) got a season-high 27 points from Cesare Edwards, his fourth 20-point effort over the last six games, and fifth of the season. Toneari Lane scored a season-high 25 points, making 6-for-12 of his 3-pointers. But the remainder of the team only combined for 28 points
The problem was a combination of Texas State’s dominance on the glass and the Bobcats’ ability to respond with a 3-point basket whenever GSU showed some notion of a comeback. Texas State outrebounded the Panthers 44-31 and came away with 17 offensive rebounds. The Bobcats scored 25 second-chance points and had 46 points in the paint. Texas State was 12-for-24 on 3-pointers.
“They just took us to the woodshed,” Hayes said. “You won’t win a lot of games when you give up 17 offensive rebounds. We got absolutely tortured on the glass and you’re talking about a team that shoots a good percentage of 3s. But when you’re giving them three or four looks at the rim and that results in a 3-point shot at the end of a possession, that is not a recipe to win.”
Texas State (10-8, 3-3) was led by Nevada transfer Tyran Pope with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Coleton Benson with 18 points, including five 3-pointers. Atlanta native Tyrel Morgan, who played at Hughes High School, added 13 points. Morgan was knocked to the floor late in the game and had to be helped off the floor by the training staff and taken directly to the locker room.
Texas State led by as many as 16 in the first half, but Georgia State trimmed the lead to 46-35 at the break. Any late momentum didn’t carry over when Texas State made three straight 3-pointers and upped its lead by 20.
Georgia State was without reserve point guard Darnell Evans, who remained in Atlanta with an illness.
Georgia State completes its road trip on Saturday at Arkansas State.
