Casual observers might get caught looking at Georgia State's high-scoring guards when glancing at a Panthers' stat sheet.
That's fair, considering Ryan Harrow (20.4 points per game) and R.J. Hunter (19.9) are first and second in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring and are the second-highest scoring duo in Division I basketball.
One thing often gets lost while looking at those lofty statistics. The Panthers can defend, too.
"They're very good with their hands," UALR Coach Steve Shields said. "They anticipate very well in their zone and the half-court trap, and they turn those turnovers into points so quickly."
Georgia State has held its past six opponents to less than 60 points and less than 30 percent shooting from the field going into today's 7:30 p.m. game at the Jack Stephens Center. The Panthers (19-8, 12-4 Sun Belt) are 5-1 in those games and have climbed into a three-way tie with Georgia Southern and Louisiana-Monroe for first place in the league standings.
They've done it with a dedication to a zone defense that Coach Ron Hunter has held throughout much of his two-decade coaching career. This year Georgia State is holding league teams to an average of 60.3 points per game and a 35.3 field-goal percentage, both league lows.
The defense that is unlike anything UALR has faced this season. The Panthers' tall guards -- four of their top seven players are 6-6 or taller -- also have active hands, which makes it difficult to penetrate the zone or pass around the perimeter looking for gaps.
"They're real handsy," UALR guard J.T. Thomas said. "They swipe at balls a lot, so we have to make sure we're taking our time and don't get caught up in moving so fast and turning the ball over."
Forcing turnovers -- and limiting its own -- is how Georgia State has beaten most teams this year. The Panthers' plus-4.93 turnover margin is tops in the Sun Belt and seventh-best nationally. Last year the Panthers had a plus-5.1 turnover margin, fifth-best nationally.
UALR might be able to combat it, considering protecting the ball has been one of UALR's best traits this year. UALR's plus-2.7 turnover margin isn't close to Georgia State's, but it is second in the Sun Belt and 31st nationally and UALR is tied with the Panthers in turnovers committed (10.8 per game).
Shields credits that to a plethora of experienced guards, notably Thomas, Ben Dillard and Josh Hagins.
Thomas has 25 turnovers while averaging 24.7 minutes in 27 games. Thomas has yet to turn the ball over more than twice in a Sun Belt game In fact, his last turnover came less than five minutes into a Feb. 14 loss to Georgia Southern when he stepped out of bounds along the sideline while trying to corral a pass.
"We've just been having a mental focus about it," Thomas said. "Coach punches on it every day in practice. It's a habit, and it's carrying over to the game."
Sports on 02/26/2015