ATLANTA (Interstat) — In a game defined by a singular, scorching performance, AJ Dancler erupted for a career-high 32 points to lead Coastal Carolina to a 76-71 victory over Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at GSU Sports Arena.

The Chanticleers, who improved to 18-12 overall, avenged a lopsided 18-point home loss to the Panthers from earlier in the season. Georgia State, despite a valiant 26-point effort from Malachi Brown, fell to 10-20.

The contest’s pivotal stretch arrived not in the frantic final minutes, but in a blistering offensive display from Dancler that spanned both halves and ultimately provided the cushion Coastal Carolina would need to withstand a late Georgia State rally. After a relatively quiet start, the junior guard from Indianapolis ignited. His personal 7-0 run late in the first half, capped by a stepback jumper, pushed a narrow Coastal Carolina lead to 30-26. He then opened the second half with immediate authority, draining a three-pointer on the Chanticleers’ first possession and assisting on a RaSheed Jones triple on the next, forcing a quick Georgia State timeout just 88 seconds into the period.

Dancler’s onslaught continued unabated. He answered every Georgia State basket with one of his own, whether a driving layup, a pull-up jumper, or another clutch three-pointer. His scoring barrage was the engine of a 16-6 Coastal Carolina run to begin the second half, transforming a slim 30-28 halftime advantage into a 46-34 lead with 15:37 to play. During this decisive stretch, Dancler accounted for 11 of his team’s 16 points.

Georgia State, led by the persistent backcourt duo of Brown and Jelani Hamilton, who finished with 14 points, refused to capitulate. The Panthers chipped away, using a 9-2 run of their own to close the gap to 48-43 midway through the half. Each time the Panthers drew close, however, Dancler or a teammate had a response. A critical three-pointer from DaJohn Craig, who provided a spark off the bench with nine points, and a tough stepback jumper from Jones, who finished with 12 points, helped stem the tide.

The Panthers made their final push in the closing minutes. Trailing 66-61, they saw two point-blank tip-in attempts by Anthony Enoh and Christian Beam roll off the rim with under three minutes to play, a sequence that epitomized their night of near-misses. Coastal Carolina’s Reggie Hill then sank two free throws to extend the lead to seven. Georgia State’s Joah Chappelle hit a deep three-pointer with 1:02 remaining to cut the deficit to 71-68, but Dancler iced the game with a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left after securing a defensive rebound following a blocked shot by Jones.

While Dancler’s scoring was the headline, Coastal Carolina’s defense in key moments proved equally vital. The Chanticleers blocked five shots, with Enoh recording two for Georgia State, and forced 12 turnovers, converting them into 15 points. The Panthers shot just 38% from the field for the game and were hampered by 12 missed free throws.

Beyond Dancler and Jones, Coastal Carolina received balanced contributions. Hill scored seven points and grabbed five offensive rebounds, while Tristan Thompson added six points. For Georgia State, Brown’s 26 points and six assists led the way, with Micah Tucker contributing 12 points. Enoh was a force defensively with nine points and two blocks.

The game, attended by 2,267 fans, saw Coastal Carolina outperform its pregame projections, as statistical models had favored Georgia State by a slight margin. The combined score of 147 points also surpassed the anticipated total.

With the win, Coastal Carolina continues its push up the Sun Belt standings heading into its regular season finale at James Madison on Friday. Georgia State will look to regroup at home against Old Dominion, also on Friday.