The Sports Inquirer

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Junior R.J. Hunter recorded a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Georgia State to an 89-58 exhibition win over Shorter on Monday night at the GSU Sports Arena.

Hunter finished 7-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, dishing out six assists and swiping four steals in 28 minutes of action.

Senior Ryan Harrow added 21 points, seven assists and four rebounds on 9-of-17 shooting as the Panthers shot 54.5 percent for the game. In two exhibition games, Harrow has scored 48 points, shooting 67.7 percent from the floor.

Six Panthers finished in double figures as Markus Crider scored 16, while T.J. Shipes, Kevin Ware and Curtis Washington each scored 10.

Crider, who earned the start and played 25 minutes, went 8-of-9 from the floor and pulled down seven rebounds. Georgia State outrebounded Shorter 43-31 on the glass.

Washington finished 5-of-6 from the floor with five rebounds and three blocked shots, while Shipes added seven rebounds for the Panthers.

“We are still working some of the kinks out but I really like the way we played defensively tonight,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “I have said before that I thought this team could be really good on the defensive end and we showed that tonight.

“I have said from day one that this will be a process. Some guys are still working to get their timing down on offensive but that will come quick enough.”

After Shorter made the first basket of the game to go up 2-0, Georgia State responded with an 8-0 run to take an 8-2 lead with15:49 to play in the first half.

Following a Crider layup with 8:29 remaining in the first half pushed the lead to 23-12, the Hawks never got within single-digits over the final 29 minutes. The Panthers led 40-24 at the half, controlling the boards 28-16.

The Panthers led by as many as 44 with 4:24 to play in the game and led for 38:25 of the contest.

Georgia State finished the game shooting 54.5 percent from the floor, while holding Shorter to 37.9 percent and just 4-of-17 from 3-point range.

Led by Hunter’s four steals, the Panthers swiped 15 as a team and forced 24 turnovers which led to 27 points.

Jordan Jacks led Shorter with 16 points and nine rebounds.