CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Eric Buckner scored 23 points and Dante Curry added 21 as Georgia State defeated Chattanooga 81-76 on Thursday night in the championship game of the Dr. Pepper Classic.
The Panthers (6-5) led 39-31 at halftime and shot 69.6 percent from the floor (16 of 23) in the second half as they never trailed following the 17:59 mark of the opening half.
Georgia State finished 30 of 55 from the field (54.5 percent), including 10 for 24 from 3-point range (41.7 percent).
Omar Wattad and DeAntre Jefferson scored 19 each, Ricky Taylor added 16 and Keegan Bell 15 for the Mocs (7-7), who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Chattanooga was 25 for 58 from the field (43.1 percent), including 8 of 34 from 3-point range (23.5 percent).
The Mocs pulled within 77-74 after a 3-pointer from Wattad with 2:04 left to play, but Chattanooga failed to make another field goal.
