The No.6-seeded Georgia State Panthers (16-13) square off against the No.7-seeded Texas State Bobcats (14-15) in the first round of the SBC tournament at Lakefront Arena. Action gets underway at 8:30 pm ET on Thursday, Mar. 10 and will air on ES3.
The Panthers are expecting a better outcome after their 91-78 loss to Louisiana-Monroe in their last game. Markus Crider was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points. The Bobcats, meanwhile, are coming off a 68-57 win against South Alabama in their last outing. Cameron Naylor shot 10-for-15 and led in scoring with 22 points.
The Panthers might struggle to find the bottom of the net as they face off against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Bobcats rank 10th in the nation in defensive efficiency, while Georgia State ranks 272nd in offensive efficiency. Also, the Bobcats commit the 17th-fewest errors in the nation (TO% of 18.0%), while the gambling defense of the Panthers causes the sixth-most (opponents’ TO% of 21.6%).
The Panthers have emerged victorious in both contests against the Bobcats this year, including a 59-56 win the last time these two teams met. Crider had a standout performance in the victory, putting up 24 points and four rebounds.
The Panthers are hoping to build on their records of 16-13 Straight Up (SU) and 8-18-1 Against The Spread (ATS). Opposing offenses have been stifled by the Panthers, allowing a field goal percentage of only .406.
Across the court, the Bobcats have 14-15 SU and 13-10 ATS records. Texas State has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 2-7-1 record. Texas State’s defense is one of the top in the nation, with opponents shooting only .425 from the field.
The Panthers’ win over Texas State in their last game moved their SU record against Texas State to 5-1 over their most recent meetings. The Panthers also hold the advantage ATS with a record of 4-2. Georgia State topped the Bobcats in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) once over the last five games. Texas State has never had the edge in all three categories.
Predictions: SU Winner – TxSt, ATS Winner – TxSt
Notes
The Texas State Bobcats have a defensive rating of 98.8 (ranked 10th), while the Georgia State Panthers have an offensive rating of 100.2 (ranked 272nd).
The Georgia State Panthers average 65.7 possessions per game and 1.002 points per possession, while the Texas State Bobcats earn fewer possessions (65.0) but more points per possession (1.019).
Georgia State has an average effective field goal percentage of 48.7%. Texas State is a losing 5-13 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
On average, the Georgia State Panthers attempt 14.0 three point field goals per game and the Texas State Bobcats attempt 14.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Georgia State has a winning 3-1 record, while Texas State is 2-3.
Georgia State ranks sixth in forced turnovers with an average rate of 21.6%. Texas State has a 4-5 record when it suffers a turnover rate equal to or exceeding this.
