Georgia State’s final spring Homecoming week featured the Men’s basketball team upsetting the number one ranked team in the Colonial Athletic Association, the George Mason Patriots, (61-57) before dropping a close game to the William and Mary Tribe (59-56).
Last Wednesday, the Men’s basketball team snapped a three game losing streak by notching their most meaningful win of the season. The Panthers ended the Patriots’ seven game winning streak.
“I’m just thankful for this team,” said GSU head coach Rod Barnes. “We lost three close ones on the road, but they kept fighting. Down the stretch, I kept telling them, they have to believe they’re going to win the game. And they did.”
Jihad Ali had a career night leading the team with 22 points, almost doubling his previous high of 12.
“(Ali) can put the ball in the hole, and he has a great feel for the game,” Barnes said “He just had to have the confidence in himself.”
Ali also pulled in six rebounds and hit a go-ahead three late in the game to set the team up for the victory.
Joe Dukes played a well-rounded game, earning 10 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore Forward Ryan Pearson led the Patriots in scoring with 13 points and in rebounding with eight boards.
The Panthers found themselves on the short-end of a close contest Saturday night against William and Mary (16-7, 8-5 CAA) in front of the largest crowd of the season at the Sports Arena.
“It’s a very disappointing loss, especially in front of such a tremendous Homecoming crowd,” Rod Barnes said.
Georgia State led most of the way, but a late game rally by the Tribe earned them the win.
“We executed really well in the first half and made shots,” Barnes said. “In the second half we were getting a lot of the same looks but we didn’t shoot as well and as a result we weren’t able to put the game away.”
William and Mary’s sophomore guard Quinn McDowell led the way with 17 points while shooting 3-6 from the three-point line.
Senior guard David Schneider added 15 points and nine rebounds.
Trae Goldston had a team high 15 points while Dukes earned nine points, seven assists and five rebounds.
The Panthers currently have the eighth best record in the CAA. The team has dropped three of their last four games by 12 or fewer points.
The team will be back in action Feb. 10 against Northeastern. The next home game will be against James Madison Tuesday Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Sports Arena.
Men’s basketball wins, loses during Homecoming games
Panthers end George Mason Patriots’ winning streak, but suffer narrow loss against William and Mary
Published: Monday, February 8, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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The men’s basketball team won against first place conference holders George Mason last week.
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