Georgia St defeats Jax State 77-73

Georgia State Edges Jax State in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown

In a tightly contested and dramatic matchup, Georgia State University (GSU) emerged victorious over visiting Jax State University with a 77-73 win at the GSU Convocation Center on Saturday evening.

The home team took an early lead at halftime, outscoring their visitors by six points (37-31). However, Jax State refused to back down, using a strong second half to narrow the gap and force the game into overtime. Despite its valiant effort, the visiting team ultimately fell short, as Georgia State's depth and defensive prowess proved too much to overcome.

For Georgia State, star forward Jelani Hamilton led the charge with 23 points on 2-8 three-point shooting (33.3% FG). The senior also chipped in eight rebounds and three assists to help his team secure the crucial win. Anthony Enoh provided further support with seven points and a dozen rebounds.

Jax State, meanwhile, was led by Mostapha El Moutaouakkil's 18 points on 58.3% shooting from the field. The forward also grabbed eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal to make him an unstoppable force in the paint.

The difference between the two teams lay in their efficiency from beyond the arc and in the paint. Georgia State's three-pointers (8/24) accounted for 33% of its points, while Jax State's outside shooting (7/22) fell short at just 32%. Meanwhile, both teams struggled to find success inside the paint, with Georgia State managing just 20 points against Jax State's more impressive 40 points.

With the win, Georgia State improves its record in non-conference play and takes a significant step towards establishing itself as a force in the Sun Belt Conference. The loss drops Jax State's record to 0-2, although it has yet to play another game.