Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Rafriel Guthrie poured in a career-high 23
points to help lift the Towson Tigers past the Georgia State Panthers in
overtime, 90-82, in a Colonial Athletic Association slugfest at GSU Sports
Arena.
Jerome Hairston added 17 points for the Tigers (14-12, 9-4 CAA), who have won
four in a row to take over sole possession of second place in the conference
standings. It marked the third straight game with at least 17 points for
Hairston, who accounted for five of the team's season-high 13 3-pointers.
Bilal Dixon recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while
Marcus Damas also scored 14, and Mike Burwell finished with 12 points.
Manny Atkins led all scorers with 26 points for the Panthers (12-14, 7-6).
Devonta White tallied 22 points and seven assists in a losing effort, while
R.J. Hunter finished with 15 points and eight boards.
GSU jumped out to a nine-point lead at the 12:44 mark of the opening frame,
marking the largest advantage by either team in the game. However, Towson
outscored GSU, 29-17, for the rest of the half to take a 37-34 lead into the
break.
The Tigers shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the second half, which included
a 6-of-9 effort from beyond the arc. However, they coughed up a five-point
lead in the final 1:11 regulation, as Atkins scored five straight points for
GSU. White sent the game to overtime by hitting a pair of free throws in the
final second.
Guthrie scored six of his 23 points in the extra session, which saw GSU go 0-
of-7 from the field. Towson scored the first five points of the period, and
the Tigers later forced turnovers on back-to-back Panthers possessions to go
up by six with 49 seconds on the clock.
Towson shot 56.4 percent from the field and 61.9 percent from 3-point range
(13-of-21) for the game. The Tigers' 10 wins away from home are their most
since the 1993-94 campaign.
GAME NOTES:
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