Georgia State Basketball Gears Up for Mercer Clash Amidst In-State Rivalry Focus
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Georgia State basketball embarks on a crucial stretch of games, beginning with a road contest against Mercer on Tuesday, December 2nd, as the team navigates a month-long road swing and a schedule heavily populated with in-state opponents.
After recently completing a three-game tournament at the Cancun Challenge, the Panthers are eager to continue building momentum. This matchup marks the 56th meeting between Georgia State and Mercer overall, and the eighth consecutive season the two programs will face off. The Panthers hold a 4-4 record against the Bears in the last decade, securing a 73-61 victory in Macon during the 2019-20 season.
A Tradition of In-State Battles
Georgia State’s schedule is strategically designed with six matchups against fellow Georgia universities, encompassing exhibition games, non-conference contests, and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) clashes. This commitment to local rivalries underscores the importance of regional basketball traditions.
The newly established “I-75 Challenge,” a home-and-home series with Kennesaw State, highlights this focus. The Panthers will face Kennesaw State for the third year in a row, and the second time on the road this season. A long-standing tradition sees Georgia State and Mercer meeting for the 46th time in program history, and the seventh time in the last six years. For 17 consecutive seasons (1998-2005), the two teams consistently met at least twice a year as members of the TAAC and A-Sun conferences.
Hamilton and Brown Lead the Charge
The Panthers boast a dynamic duo in Jelani Hamilton and Malachi Brown, both returning for their second season after playing in all 33 games last year. Hamilton currently leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, alongside 2.3 rebounds, 0.75 steals, and 1.75 assists. His impressive 94.1% free throw percentage ranks second in the Sun Belt, and his 32 successful free throws place him sixth in the conference. Last season, Hamilton recorded a season-high 32 points against Toccoa Falls and finished as the team leader with 38 total steals.
Brown continues to excel as the team’s primary facilitator, leading the Panthers with 3 assists per game for the second consecutive year, while contributing 10.4 points per game. He also ranks second on the team with nine steals. The Buford, Georgia native started 31 of 33 games last season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, and led the team in total assists (111) and steals (37).
New Faces, Significant Impact
Georgia State’s starting lineup features four newcomers, including veteran transfers and promising freshmen. Sophomore Joah Chappelle has quickly become a key contributor, averaging 9.9 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with 61 total boards. Averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, Chappelle currently ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in total rebounds and third in rebounding average, leading the Panthers in rebounding in five of eight games this season.
Sophomore Christian Beam is making his presence felt defensively, ranking in the top 10 in the Sun Belt in blocks (9 total, 1.13 per game). Freshman Micah Tucker is averaging 11.1 points per game and is second on the team with 2.1 assists per game, leading the team in steals with 12. Tucker previously played at Overtime Elite, where he averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 20 games. Ayouba Berthe, a junior transfer from Minot State, adds another dimension to the offense, having averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his previous collegiate experience.
Bench Production Fuels Panthers
The Georgia State bench is providing valuable contributions, averaging 17.75 points per game, accounting for 28.2% of the team’s total scoring. Junior Anthony Enoh is a key contributor off the bench, averaging 6.0 points and accounting for 28.6% of the Panthers’ bench points, while also contributing 4.7 rebounds per game. Junior Isaiah Sherrard adds defensive energy with eight rebounds, three steals, and four blocks.
Graduate transfer James Cooper, who comes to Georgia State from Oregon, brings experience having appeared in 28 games during his four years with the Ducks. Jakai Newton, who has also seen action as a starter, averages 8.6 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding with 5.0 boards. Newton brings Power 4 experience, having spent two years at Indiana before a lower body injury, and was a highly-ranked prospect coming out of high school (86th by 247Sports).
Following the Mercer game, the Panthers will remain in Georgia to face Kennesaw State on December 6th before returning home to host Jacksonville State on December 13th.
