VCU defeats Georgia State in overtime

ATLANTA – Senior forward Nick George (Manchester, England) scored 23 of his game-high 34 points in the second half and overtime as VCU rallied to defeat Georgia State Saturday.

With the Panthers leading late in the fourth quarter and time slipping off the clock, the Rams gained possession of the ball and needed a 3-pointer to force overtime.

The Rams passed the ball around looking for an open shot, and guard B.A. Walker (Onancock/Nandua High School) looked to fire with two defensemen in his face. Abandoning the shot in mid-air, he dumped the ball into the corner where George stood open to hit the game-tying 3-pointer and forced overtime with 7.4 seconds left.

In overtime George scored six consecutive points early to build the lead and Alexander Harper (Columbia, S.D.) hit the team’s 12th 3-pointer to put the Rams up for good.

The Rams were down for most of the game, trailing by 13 points twice in the first half and by as many as eight points in the second half. Walker got the Rams’ rally going, hitting three 3-pointers in a row to put the Rams up by one with 4:22 left, their only lead in regulation.

Herman Favors paced the Panthers with 18 points and four assists.