What You Need to Know:
* No. 2-seed Georgia State topped No. 7-seed Troy 73-51 in the Sun Belt Conference quarterfinals on Friday at Lakefront Arena.
* The Panthers will advance to face either No. 3-seed Georgia Southern or No. 6-seed UL Monroe on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
NEW ORLEANS-No. 2-seed Georgia State opened the Sun Belt Championship at Lakefront Arena on Friday with an impressive 73-51 win over No. 7-seed Troy. Junior Jeff Thomas led the Panthers with 19 points as Georgia State held Troy to just 31.1 percent shooting.
Sophomore D’Marcus Simonds who was named Sun Belt Player of the Year earlier this week finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as the Panthers shot 50.