Southern Miss vs. Georgia State final score: Panthers drop close one, 69-67

The Georgia State Panthers went ice-cold at the worst possible time Tuesday.

Up three points with three minutes to go in the game, Georgia State fell apart on offense, hitting just one of its final five shots in a 69-67 loss to Southern Miss. Despite 24 points from R.J. Hunter, the Panthers couldn't hold their late lead and dropped their sixth game of the year.

After a Manny Atkins layup made it 62-59 with just over three minutes left, Georgia State lost its way offensively and defensively. The Panthers (5-6) scored just four points over those final three minutes—two at the foul line—and missed three three-pointers in the final 30 seconds. Southern Miss, meanwhile, hit three of its last four shots, including Jerrold Brooks' three-pointer with two minutes left that broke a 65-65 tie and gave the Golden Eagles (8-3) the lead for good.

It was a bitter loss for Georgia State, which had led by as many as 11 points midway through the second half. Despite getting little from leading scorer Devonta White, the Panthers were paced by Hunter, who came within one point of his season- and career-high in points. But Georgia State let the Golden Eagles shoot 49 percent from the floor, and also lost the edge in rebounding, 31-22.

White scored 13 points for the Panthers, as did Atkins. For Southern Miss, Brooks led the way with 23 points and four three-pointers.

Georgia State, which has now lost two straight, will next play on Dec. 22 at Rhode Island. Tip-off will be at 2 pm ET.