Box Score (PDF)

CANCUN, Mexico – Sophomore forward Nick Mayo scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, but the Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team fell to Georgia State, 82-65, on Wednesday in the 2016 Cancun Challenge Mayan Division Championship Game.
 
It is the fifth time in six games that Mayo has scored 20 or more points this season. The native of Oakland, Maine went for 21 points, 10 boards and four assists on Tuesday versus Idaho State.
 
Mayo and senior wing Jaylen Babb-Harrison were named to the Cancun Challenge Mayan Division All-Tournament Team following the game. Babb-Harrison scored 29 points, pulled down 13 boards and dished out seven assists in the Colonels' two games in Mexico this week.
 
EKU (2-4) jumped out to a quick lead over Georgia State, as a three-pointer by Mayo made it 16-6 in favor of the Colonels just over five minutes into the game.
 
GSU responded with a 14-0 run, though, and grabbed a 20-16 advantage when Isaiah Williams converted a layup with 10:46 on the clock.
 
A dunk by D'Marcus Simonds stretched the Panthers' lead to nine, 41-32, just before halftime.
 
Eastern pulled back to within eight, 50-42, when freshman guard Asante Gist got a layup to go with 16:42 remaining in the game; however, GSU countered with five straight points to go up by 13, and the Panthers led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
Gist finished with 16 points, 12 of which came in the second half. He also contributed a team-best five assists and came up with two steals.
 
Junior forward Zach Charles tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for the Colonels. Freshman forward Marlon Adams came off the bench to match a team-best with eight rebounds, seven of which were offensive.
 
Williams led the way for Georgia State with 18 points, while Willie Clayton recorded nine points and a game-high 15 boards.
 
The Colonels fly home on Thursday and host Berea College on Saturday at McBrayer Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.