ATLANTA – Jay Jay Chandler tied a career-high with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting but the University of South Alabama men's basketball team lost at Georgia State 69-62 on Saturday at the GSU Sports Arena
 
Javon Franklin added 10 points and five rebounds, while Diante Smith posted nine points and Charles Manning Jr. added seven to power the Jaguar offense.
 
Kane Williams led the Panthers with 17 points, including a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line, Jalen Thomas finished with 11 points and Eliel Nsoseme and Justin Roberts both had 10 for Georgia State.
 
Date: 2/5
Place: GSU Sports Arena
Final Score: South Alabama 62, Georgia State 69
Records: South Alabama (15-8) (5-5), Georgia State (9-10) (3-5)
 
GAME FACTS
- Georgia State jumped out to an early 18-4 lead over the first six minutes, going 7-for-12 from the field.
- Smith hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to single-digits, 22-14, with 8:36 left in the half.
- Williams connected on a three as time expired to push the Panther lead to 18, 42-24, at the break.
- Both teams traded buckets over the first six minutes of the second half and Williams hit four free throws to extend the Georgia State lead to 21, 52-31.
- Chandler hit five straight field goals and South went on a 13-1 run to cut the deficit to 11, 57-46, with just under nine minutes left in the game.
- Chandler knocked down a pair of free throws and hit a contested layup to pull the Jags within single-digits, 63-58, with 2:13 to go.
- Kayo Goncalves connected on a three-pointer to cut the lead to four, 66-62, with 28 seconds remaining.
- The Panthers went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe over the final 28 seconds to hold on for the 69-62 victory.
 
NOTES
- Georgia State now leads the all-time series 20-17.
- South Alabama held the Panthers to just 5-for-25 (20 percent) from the field in the second half, which was a season-best for a second half.
- Chandler has scored 20 or more points in nine games and scored in double-digits in 21 consecutive games, the 21 straight games are tied for the longest streak by any player this season.
- Franklin has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight contests.
- Tyler Shirley pulled down a career-best six rebounds in 12 minutes of action.
- Smith had a career-high eight rebounds.
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richie Riley
- On the outcome of the game:
"We got off to a slow start again and dug a pretty big hole. We just aren't playing very well. This road trip has beat us up. We've lost three in a row and we have struggled and played pretty bad in all three games to be honest with you. We fought back but it was just similar to the other night. We should never be in that spot. We just have to play better, especially in the first half. We have to get back home and figure some things out. Since our last home game when we played really well, we've played equally as bad in the three games since."
 
UP NEXT
- USA returns home to take on Little Rock on Thursday at 7 p.m. (CST) at the Mitchell Center.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
 
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