Saturday, February 23rd, 8:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Pete Matthews Coliseum (5,500) -- Jacksonville, Alabama. Television: none. Home Record: GSU 5-8, JSU 6-8. Away Record: GSU 2-11, JSU 0-11. Neutral Record: GSU 0-0, JSU 0-1. Conference Record: GSU 4-12, JSU 4-14. Series Record: Jacksonville State leads, 10-8.

GAME NOTES: The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are trying to accomplish their first three-game winning streak of the season, as the squad finishes play at the Pete Matthews Coliseum this season with a non-conference BracketBuster meeting with the Georgia State Panthers. Jacksonville State has had a week to rest for tonight's bout, as the Gamecocks defeated Morehead State, 66-48 last weekend. The win was the team's second straight Ohio Valley Conference victory, as JSU stunned Eastern Kentucky, 73-61 earlier last week. All six of the Gamecocks' wins have come at Pete Matthews Coliseum, and JSU will try to end home play on a winning note. Last weekend, the Panthers ended a four-game slide by sneaking past Northeastern, 57-55. GSU couldn't keep the good times rolling three days later, as the Panthers were upended by UNC Wilmington, 77-72. It was the best offensive performance for the squad in Colonial Athletic Association play, where Georgia State has managed just four victories in 16 opportunities. The Panthers currently trail the Gamecocks, 10-8 in the head-to-head series.

Georgia State is averaging just 60.2 ppg, while giving up almost six more points. In a rare offensive explosion earlier this week, Trae Goldston sunk 6-of-10 from three-point land en route to tallying a game-high 22 points. Goldston is hitting 40.8 percent from behind the arc on the season while contributing 9.2 ppg. Leonard Mendez is also hitting at over 40.0 percent from downtown while leading the team with 16.0 ppg. Mendez's 1-for-9 effort from the field certainly contributed to the five-point loss to UNCW. Michael Moynihan tried to fill in the lost production with 19 points and six assists, but the Panthers simply couldn't overcome their opponents' 56.9 percent shooting from the field.

Against Morehead State last weekend, the Jacksonville State defense finally stepped up and held its opponent under the 50-point mark by allowing them to shoot just 32.2 percent from the field. On the year, the Gamecocks have been thwarted for 77.0 ppg, while the offense has failed to keep up with the competition. Nick Murphy and Jonathan Toles did their part in keeping up with MSU by netting 16 points apiece. Murphy leads the squad with 13.2 ppg, while J.J. Wesley and Will Ginn have combined to hit 125 three-pointers to contribute 10.6 ppg apiece. The Gamecocks usually sport a four-guard lineup with Amadou Mbodji setting up shop in the post. Mbodji is grabbing 5.9 rpg without much help from his teammates, as JSU is being out-rebounded by almost six boards per game.

Jacksonville State has recently shown it can match up offensively with most teams in the OVC. Georgia State has struggled on the offensive end and will have a difficult time spoiling the Gamecocks' attempt at three straight wins.

Predicted Outcome

Jacksonville State 78, Georgia State 69