January 2, 2003
HOT SHOOTING GEORGIA STATE
RACES PAST FURMAN 73-62
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Nate Williams scored 20 points and Georgia State shot a sizzling 67.9 percent from the field in the second half to race past Furman 73-62 in basketball action Thursday night at Timmons Arena.
Williams, a 6-foot-11 junior who tallied 21 points in Georgia State's 70-64 win over the Paladins in early December, connected on 10-of-13 field goals and claimed seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 35 minutes of action to spark the Panthers (4-6) to the victory and snap a five-game losing streak.
Furman got a game high 21 points and nine rebounds from Karim Souchu, but the Paladins (6-9) wilted in the second half under Georgia State's accurate shooting. For the game the Panthers shot 60.0 percent, converting 30-of-50 field goal attempts and 5-of-9 3-pointers.
Leading 28-24 at intermission, Georgia State knocked down 13 of its first 14 field goal attempts over the first 10 minutes of the second half to take total control following a layup by Williams at the 10:06 mark that made it 57-38.
The Panthers led by as many as 24 points at 67-43 following a 3-pointer by Lamar McIntosh with 4:33 to go before Furman rallied for the game's final margin.
"We emphasized pride and intensity tonight," said Georgia State assistant coach Mike Perry, who directed the Panthers in the absence of Lefty Driesell, who remained in Atlanta due to flu. "We knew we couldn't stop the losing streak by talking about or from team meetings, it had to come from hard work on the court, and that's what we got tonight ‹ hard work and intelligent play. Our secondary break was better tonight, and we rebounded well."
"We've got to find a way to score because right now we're just having trouble scoring," said Furman head coach Larry Davis, whose team was forced to compete without the services of injured junior center Marijan Pojatina and redshirt freshman guard Jason Patterson. Both players sustained sprained ankles in practice earlier in the week but are expected back for the Paladins' Jan. 7 Southern Conference contest versus Georgia Southern in Statesboro.
"I don't think we're that bad of a defensive team, but they made some shots and got it into the post on us," added Davis. "You have to give them credit, they executed well."
Joining Williams in double figures for the Panthers were Leroy Davis with 13 points and Trello Galloway with 12 points. Georgia State claimed a 34-27 rebounding advantage.
Guilherme Da Luz chipped in 14 points and added a game high seven assists for Furman. The Paladins, however, shot only 36.8 percent from the field.