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GAME NOTES: The Drake Bulldogs and Georgia State Panthers will collide for the first-time ever on the hardwood when the two schools take part in the second round of the Glen Wilkes Classic at the Ocean Center.

It has been a rough start to the year for the Bulldogs, who have lost their first two matchups. The most recent loss was an embarrassing, 90-70 setback to Iowa State at home. The Bulldogs are coming of their second straight season in which the team advanced to a post-season tournament, but if Drake does not find the right chemistry and soon, the Bulldogs will only be watching postseason play this year.

As for the Panthers, they opened their new season with a 69-53 setback to NC State, but that was followed with a 77-53 victory. However, the team's lone win came against Carver Bible College, which clearly is not a top of the line opponent. Georgia State will be on the road for the next couple of weeks and will not host its next game until November 30th when Jacksonville heads to town.

After allowing 88 points to IUPUI in their opener, the Bulldogs inability to play defense continued against Iowa State, as the Bulldogs allowed the Cyclones to shoot 56.3 percent from the field and 60.9 percent from long range, en route to a 90-point performance. The poor defense took away from an otherwise solid showing by the team offensively, as Drake did shoot a healthy 45.5 percent from the field, and also connected on 10-of-22 attempts from behind the arc. Ben Simons, who scored 13 points in the opener against IUPUI, led the way against Iowa State, as the forward scored 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Ryan Wedel added 13 points in the loss for Drake, while Josh Young chipped in with 11. It was the second solid outing for Wedel, as the junior led the tea with 23 points in the loss to IUPUI. Young however, is the top returning player for Drake, after scoring 15.4 ppg a year ago.

Georgia State scored just 53 points in its opener against NC State, but the team was much better against a lesser opponent in Carver Bible College, as the Panthers shot just 41.9 percent from the floor, but were able to connect on 23-of-32 attempts from the foul line. Trae Goldston had an all-around solid showing for the Panthers, as the guard netted 17 points, to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Goldston only scored five points in the opener against NC State, but the guard is one of the top returning player for Georgia State after averaging 10.8 ppg last season. Trey Hampton added 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the team's recent win, while James Field also posted 11 points in a reserve role. The team's top scorer from a year ago, Joe Dukes, has struggled to start the year. Dukes netted just seven points against NC State in the opener, and also posted just seven points against Carver Bible College, but committed five turnovers as well.

Drake has yet to find its groove for the new campaign, but this is a program that has won over the past few seasons, so look for the Bulldogs to get things straightened out this evening against a weak Georgia State squad.