CUTHBERT, Ga. – On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Andrew College Men's Basketball Team will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to face Georgia State University in a highly anticipated nonconference matchup. Saturday's game will mark several firsts for the Fighting Tigers as they continue their inaugural season in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs, Andrew's first official game against an NCAA Division I opponent and the first time the Fighting Tigers will appear on ESPN+ in the history of Andrew College Athletics.
The contest will provide valuable exposure for the Fighting Tigers while giving Andrew an opportunity to test itself against some of the top collegiate competition Georgia has to offer.
Last Time Beyond the Arc
In their last matchup against Baptist University of Florida, the Fighting Tigers put together an impressive offensive performance in the opening half, scoring 50 points to take a 50-40 advantage into halftime.
However, Baptist responded with 61 points in the second half, outscoring Andrew by 15 over the final 20 minutes to come away with a 101-95 victory.
K'Shawn Scott and
J'mari Greene led the way for Andrew with 22 points apiece. Scott shot an impressive 11-for-15 from the field, while Greene connected on four of his six attempts from beyond the arc.
Saulamon Evans added 18 points, while
Zy'Quan Grant chipped in with 14 to round out Andrew's double-digit scorers.
Despite the loss, the Fighting Tigers shot 51.9% from the field and knocked down 10 3-pointers.
Unfortunately, Andrew struggled on the boards as Baptist held a 49-28 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds. The Eagles also held a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 16 free throws compared to Andrew's six.
Baptist was led by Jordan Isaac, who finished with a game-high 38 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Fighting Tigers to Watch: Saulamon Evans and K'Shawn Scott
Heading into Saturday's matchup,
Saulamon Evans and
K'Shawn Scott will be two Fighting Tigers to watch as Andrew prepares for its first meeting against Georgia State.
Evans and Scott currently sit tied for the team lead in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game.
Evans is coming off his highest scoring output of the season, recording 18 points against Baptist University of Florida. Alongside his scoring performance, Evans added three rebounds and three assists while contributing on the defensive end with two steals.
The junior wing has continued to establish himself as a consistent offensive threat for Andrew, scoring in double figures in each of his first three games.
Alongside Evans, Scott has also been a consistent force for the Fighting Tigers, recording double-digit scoring performances in each of his first three games to begin the season.
The senior transfer is coming off a season-high 22-point performance against Baptist University of Florida, shooting an impressive 73.3% (11-for-15) from the field.
Both players will look to continue their strong starts as Andrew prepares to face its toughest competition of the season.
The Opponent: The Panthers
The Fighting Tigers will face the Georgia State Panthers, who enter Saturday's matchup with a 0-2 overall record following a 77-67 loss to the University of Charlotte on Thursday.
Despite the loss, the Panthers saw a strong individual performance from Jacolb Fredson-Cole, who finished with a season-high 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Georgia State will look to bounce back from its early-season struggles and secure its first victory of the season in front of its home crowd.
For Andrew, Saturday's matchup represents an opportunity to compete on a larger stage, gain valuable experience against Division I competition and continue building momentum as the Fighting Tigers navigate their first season in the NAIA and Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC).
Game Information
Saturday's game is set for 1 p.m. at the GSU Convocation Center on the campus of Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga.
The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Livestream: Watch Andrew at Georgia State University
Andrew Basketball: AndrewFightingTigers.com
Located in Cuthbert, Georgia, Andrew College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Fighting Tigers sponsor 18 sports and compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
