ATLANTA, GA | Georgia State used balanced scoring and timely three-point shooting to control an exhibition at Frank L. Forbes Arena, defeating Morehouse 73–62. The Panthers led 39–29 at halftime and kept the Maroon Tigers at arm's length down the stretch before a late exchange of free throws and dunks set the final margin.
First half
Morehouse struck first when
Sincere Key buried a wing three on the opening possession for a 3–0 lead, but an immediate answered from deep put Georgia State ahead 5–3. The Panthers' first major push came mid-half: a corner three, then an intercepted pass and a run-out layup—part of a burst that made it 16–6 with 13:32 left. Another Panther right-side three to stretched the lead to 23–9.
The Maroon Tigers responded with their best stretch of the night: an 11–0 run fueled by a Key three, a
Josiah Lawson triple, a
Brandon Peters three, and a Lawson pull-up—cutting a 14-point deficit to 30–27 with 2:19 remaining. Georgia State closed the half decisively as three threes in the final 1:11 restored a 39–29 cushion at the break.
Second half
The Panthers hit the gas out of halftime: a dunk, free throws and a jumper, along with four quick points, stretched the margin to 48–33 at 15:59.
JerMontae Hill briefly steadied Morehouse with a right-wing three (48–36), but Georgia State rebuilt separation behind interior touches, a jumper, and two free throws increased the deficit to 60–41 at the 10:03 mark.
Morehouse had one more push: Key's layup and
Logan McCormick's free throws whittled it to 66–54 with 4:29 left, and
Robert Brazelton's makes at the line made it 69–58 at 1:53. The Panthers closed it with a layup at 1:25 and a dunk with :43 to go; Key punctuated the night with a fast-break dunk at the horn for the final 73–62.
Team comparison
Georgia State's edge came inside and on the glass. The Panthers shot 42.9% overall (12-of-25 in the first half) and finished +8 on the boards (41–33), converting that work into 15 second-chance points and a 30–10 advantage in the paint. They also cashed 18-of-23 at the stripe. Morehouse lived more from deep—8-for-21 (38.1%)—but shot 30.4% overall and couldn't consistently generate rim looks despite a 20-for-26 night at the line. Bench scoring tilted 25–20 to GSU and points off turnovers 16–10 to the Panthers.
Statistical leaders
Morehouse showed resilience with that 11–0 first-half punch and a couple of late charges, but Georgia State's shot-making at key junctures.For an exhibition opener, the tape gives the Maroon Tigers a clear roadmap: clean up the defensive glass, trim live-ball turnovers, and keep creating those catch-and-shoot looks that fueled their best stretches.
