Men's Basketball

Georgia State Powers Past Troy to Reach Sun Belt Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinal

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jeff Thomas scored 19 points, D'Marcus Simonds added 17 with eight rebounds and seven assists and No. 2 seed Georgia State clobbered defending champion Troy 73-51 in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Friday.

Georgia State (22-10) advances to Saturday's semifinal for the second year in a row and will face sixth-seeded Louisiana-Monroe or No. 3 seed Georgia Southern. Georgia State has been a second seed or higher in four of the last five seasons.

Although Troy (16-17) came into this year's event as a No. 7 seed, the Trojans beat Georgia State twice in conference play, by two and by 13 points. There was no charmed third time as Troy was held to 14-of-45 shooting (31 percent) with 15 turnovers on Friday. The Trojans were 5-of-22 in the first half.

Simonds was named Sun Belt Player of the Year. The Panthers led wire-to-wire, posting a 37-19 lead at the half and going up by 25 near the end. Georgia State shot 14 of 27 in the first half, 15 of 30 in the second to shoot 51 percent for the game.

Jordon Varnado scored 15 points with nine rebounds to lead Troy.

Georgia State Notes
• After holding Troy to a season-low 24 first half points in their first meeting, State was able to top that by allowing only 19 first half points.
• Devin Mitchell hit three shots from behind the arc pushing him past Shellord Pinkett for the third most single-season three pointers (92) in school history.
• After dishing out seven assists, D’Marcus Simonds is now tied with Devonta White for the fourth most single-season assists in school history.
• The Panthers had lost their previous three matchups against Troy dating back to last season prior to today’s victory.
• Since their 77-74 OT loss to Liberty on December 4, the Panthers have won six straight when they shoot over 50% from the field.

Troy Notes
• The Trojans ended the season winless when they score fewer than 60 points (0-3).
• Wesley Person finished the season with 582 points, the eighth most in program history.
• Wesley Person finished the season with 97 made three pointers, the third most in school history. Person now owns the single-season record for the third, fourth and fifth most three pointers in school history.
• Troy’s 22-point loss to State was their worse in-conference loss of the season.
• Alex Hicks set a Troy Division I single-season record for rebounds with 277.