BOONE, N.C. -- The two most recent Sun Belt champions are set to meet for the first time during the 2022-23 season, as App State men's basketball hosts Georgia State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Holmes Center.
The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live stats and listening options available to follow along.
THE SERIES
- This will be the 20th meeting between the two schools in a series that Georgia State leads 10-9.
- Georgia State beat App State in the second round of the 2022 SBC Tournament, 66-71. The Panthers defeated Louisiana in the championship game.
- The season prior, the Mountaineers topped the Panthers, 80-71 in the SBC championship game.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS (11-10, 4-4 SBC)
- In each of the last two games, App State has had its top two personal scoring performances of the season. Dibaji Walker scored a career-high 27 points at Coastal Carolina, followed by a career-high 28 points by Terence Harcum at Old Dominion.
- App State ranks 33rd in the nation in field goal percentage defense and leads the Sun Belt. The Mountaineers have held their opponents to 39.9% shooting from the field.
- Donovan Gregory is seventh in the conference in free throw shooting, averaging 78% (56-72). During Sun Belt games, Harcum averages 85% (22-26), the second-best clip in the conference.
- Xavion Brown has started the last three games for the Black & Gold. Brown has recorded 20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals and his first three starting opportunities of the season.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS (9-11, 2-6 SBC)
- Georgia State has won only a fourth of its league matchups this season, defeating South Alabama and Coastal Carolina. Last weekend, the Panthers fell to Old Dominion and Georgia Southern.
- Brenden Tucker has arisen as Georgia State's leading scorer during conference play, averaging 14.5 points per game. The junior scored a season-high 25 against ULM and 21 against Troy.
- The Panthers have allowed only 64.2 points per game this season, which is the second-best rate in the conference.
- Ja'Heim Hudson has been active in the paint this season, averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets for App State home games can be purchased
here.
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will host Arkansas State on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team. Next week, App State will host Marshall (Feb. 2) and James Madison (Feb. 4).
