Ja’Heim Hudson scored a career-high 26 points and four other players reached double figures to lead Georgia State to a 100-66 win over Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon at the GSU Convocation Center.
The Panthers (9-9, 2-4 Sun Belt) shot a season-high 63.8 percent from the field, including 57 percent from 3-point range by connecting on 16 of 28 from beyond the arc.
Playing their most complete game of the season, the Panthers limited Coastal Carolina (8-9, 2-4) to 35 percent from the field, including just 5-for-22 from 3-point range, and outrebounded the Chanticleers 30-25.
Hudson, the sophomore forward from Hinesville, Ga., went 9-for-13 from the field with a career-best four 3-pointers on seven attempts. He also contributed five rebounds, two blocked shots, two steals and two assists.
Brenden Tucker scored 19 points, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, and the junior guard has averaged 19.3 points over the last four games. Jamaine Mann and Dwon Odom added 16 points each, and Kalik Brooks was the fifth Panther in double figures with 10 points.
“I thought our guys really brought it today,” head coach Jonas Hayes said. “But again, while we showed progress, now we need to see consistency, and I will not let up on them. I was particularly challenging to them the last few days, and it’s good to see immediate dividends. But we’re not going to let up.
Georgia State led 29-24 with eight minutes left in the first half when the Panthers exploded for 17 straight points. The run began with back-to-back 3-pointers by Hudson and Brooks, and then a jumper by Odom made it 37-24. Hudson hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and then he added a free throw and a jumper for nine straight points and a 46-24 lead before Coastal Carolina ended the run with a pair of free throws in the final minute, sending Georgia State into the locker room with a 20-point lead.
The Chanticleers cut the lead to 14 points at 51-37 early in the second half, prompting a timeout by Hayes. Evan Johnson responded with a 3-pointer, and Coastal Carolina could get no closer than 14 points the rest of the way as Georgia State cruised to the win.
The Panthers shot 60.7 percent in the first half, and then topped that with a 66.7 percent clip in the second half. GSU hit eight treys in each half.
“I’m holding our guys to consistent progress. And putting two halves together is a good piece of it,” Hayes said.
Georgia State’s 63.8 field goal percentage is its best ever in a Sun Belt game. The Panthers’ scored their fourth-most points vs. the Sun Belt and achieved their third-highest margin of victory against the Sun Belt. The 16 3-pointers equal GSU’s second-most in a Sun Belt game and fourth-most in all games.
“These guys have been giving me and giving Georgia State everything they have. To see this for validation of what we’re doing, if we stick with it, is really big,” Hayes said.