RENO, NEVADAD - Marcus Brown scored 20 points and Georgia State spoiled coach Larry Eustachy's debut for Southern Mississippi with a 70-68 victory Saturday night in the Jim Thorpe Classic.<br>
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Tikoyo Barnett added 15 points and Malcolm Manier scored 13 in the season opener for the Panthers, the preseason favorites in the Atlantic Sun Conference. They will play host Nevada in Sunday's championship game.<br>
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Rashaad Carruth and Jasper Johnson scored 22 points apiece for the Golden Eagles, but they missed two shots in the final seconds.<br>
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Eustachy, the AP coach of the year in 2000, resigned from Iowa State last year following a scandal related to his alcoholism. The Golden Eagles, who hired Eustachy in March, will play Colorado-Colorado Springs in Sunday's consolation game.<br>
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Georgia State led 39-38 at halftime and scored the first nine points of the second half. The Panthers led 66-56 with 3:57 left, but barely held off a charge from Southern Miss in the final minutes.<br>
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The Golden Eagles made a 10-2 run to cut the lead to two points with 30 seconds left. They trailed 69-68 with 13.8 seconds left, but Brown hit a free throw before Southern Miss missed twice as time ran out.
