Hamilton Records Double-Double in Georgia State's Win over Georgia Southern

Jelani Hamilton's 13 points and 10 rebounds led the Panthers to a 66-64 victory over the Eagles.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Jelani Hamilton collected a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Georgia State men's basketball team over the Georgia Southern Eagles 66-64 at home Thursday. The Panthers had three players score in double figures, led by Malachi Brown with 19 points and two steals. Georgia State's defense held Georgia Southern shooters to only 33.8 percent from the field, including 27.8 percent from three-point range.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Georgia State in contention for a strong finish to the season and potential postseason play. The Panthers' ability to win close games against conference rivals like Georgia Southern will be crucial as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch.

The details

After jumping out to a 26-25 advantage, Georgia State went on a 9-0 run with 6:33 left in the first half to increase its lead to 35-25. The Panthers then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 37-27 advantage. Georgia State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 37 points. The Eagles proceeded to tie things up at 59-59 before Georgia State went on a 5-0 run to seize a 64-59 lead with 13 seconds to go in the contest. The Eagles narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Panthers still held on for the 66-64 win.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Jelani Hamilton

A Georgia State player who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Malachi Brown

A Georgia State player who led the team with 19 points and two steals.

Jonas Hayes

The head coach of the Georgia State men's basketball team.

Christian Beam

A Georgia Southern player who had three offensive rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“Our students really showed up tonight, and they made all the difference. I want to give a lot of credit to coach Henry and the Georgia Southern basketball team. They came in here and fought back, but we were able to keep standing. We kept our poise and ended up coming home with a win.”

— Jonas Hayes, Head coach (georgiastatesports.com)

What’s next

Georgia State is back at home against James Madison on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:00 p.m.

The takeaway

This victory demonstrates Georgia State's resilience and ability to win close games against conference rivals. The Panthers' strong defensive performance and balanced scoring attack will be key as they look to build momentum and secure a postseason berth.