Game 700: Comeback

South Alabama at Georgia State
February 15 at GSU Sports Arena in Atlanta, GA
espn3

In the second half, Malik Benlevi scored 17 of his career-high 26 points, Jeff Thomas scored all but six of his 21, and Georgia State overcame an 18-point deficit to win 90-81.

Sourh Alabama went 12-of-19 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes, building a lead as large as 50-32 and going into the locker room up 53-39. GSU didn't quit, and while the visitors cooled off considerably in the second half from long range - 2-of-13 - (they attempted 32 threes!), the Panthers climbed back into it.

A 16-1 run, which nearly erased the Jaguars' largest second-half lead of 16, was capped by Benlevi's corner three at the 13:53 mark and it was only a 56-55 deficit. Though South Alabama regained a six-point advantage when Josh Ajayi went 1-of-2 from the line at the 8:47 mark, Thomas' 3-pointer, one of four for the senior, put GSU ahead for good at 78-77 with just under four minutes to play.

After shooting 55% from the field in the first half, the Jaguars added just 28 points & shot 29% over the final 20 minutes, making one field goal over the final five minutes.

Benlevi had a huge night, going 5-for-7 from behind the arc and adding a team-high-tying (with Thomas) seven rebounds, five assists and three of GSU's 10 steals. Thomas moved into 15th on the school's all-time scoring list, passing both Jim Jacobs and current GSU radio commentator Lamont McIntosh.

The Panthers had 23 assists on 29 made baskets to move to 9-4 in Sun Belt play with five games to go.