Men's Basketball Stopped By Georgia State

Thursday, January 11

Atlanta, Ga.

6:00 PM ET

Florida Atlantic

Georgia State

1/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Jan. 11, 2001

Box Score

ATLANTA, GA -

Georgia State University scored the game's first 12 points on their way to a 96-77 Trans America Athletic Conference victory over visiting Florida Atlantic University in Atlanta Thursday night. The loss drops FAU to 3-2 in TAAC play and 4-12 overall. GSU improved to 4-1 and 13-2, respectively. Earnest Crumbley led the Owls with 22 points. Shernard Long and Darry Cooper led GSU with 22 points each.

The Panthers led the Owls 12-0 with 17:21 left in the first half before FAU began chipping away at the early deficit. A three-pointer by Jeff Cowans pulled the Owls within three points, at 27-24, with 8:42 left in the first half. GSU then went on a 10-2 run to take a 37-26 lead with 5:42 left. The Owls closed on a 10-6 run to trail at the half 43-36.

Both teams traded buckets to begin the second half with FAU still trailing by seven, 50-43, with 16:36 remaining in the game. That's when the Panthers went on a 25-8 run over the next 8:02 to take a 75-51 lead with 8:34 left in the game.

The Owls would get as close as 77-60 with 6:37 left on a Crumbley three-pointer. FAU never led in the game.

Cowans finished with 18 points, including 15 in the second half. John Smart also finished in double figures with 14 points.

"Our kids fought to the end, "said FAU head coach Sidney Green. "We played 40 minutes of hard basketball, but unfortunately the first 2-3 minutes of the game didn't go the way we expected. We picked it up. Our intensity picked up, but unfortunately they made shots and we put them at the free throw line 35 times."

GSU finished 30-of-35 from the line while outshooting FAU from the field 53-percent to 46-percent. The Owls were outrebounded 32-23 as Cowans led FAU with seven boards.

FAU next plays at Campbell Saturday at 1:00pm.