November 10 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
espn3.com
Not a bad way to open up a new season.
Sophomore D'Marcus Simonds led four in double figures, recording the first triple-double in school history as GSU rolled 90-50.
Last year's Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year is expected to be one of the league's top players again this season and Simonds showed a lot of that promise on opening night. He finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists & the Panthers held the Division III Cougars to 35% shooting.
GSU had a disappointing finish to the 2016-17 season, losing as the No. 2 seed to sixth-seeded and eventual league champion Troy in the Sun Belt semifinals. But with Simonds, a hopeful next step taken by junior Malik Benlevi (17 and 7 on Friday), and contributions from transfers (junior Jordan Tyson from St. Bonaventure and Damon Wilson from Pittsburgh) and freshmen (guard Kane Williams and forward Josh Linder), the Panthers have the pieces to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014-2015.
Devin Mitchell had 18 points and hit five threes, while Jordan Session had a near double-double (10 points, nine rebounds) and Tyson and Linder added eight points each off the bench to help lead the hosts.
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