Bowling Green Edges Georgia State 76-73
Zach Howell scored 28 points as Bowling Green held off Georgia State in its season opener.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Bowling Green defeated Georgia State 76-73 in a season opener on November 2, 2026. Zach Howell led all scorers with 28 points for Bowling Green, while Jacob Meyer scored 25 for Georgia State.
Why it matters
The win gives Bowling Green a positive start to the season and highlights the scoring production of Howell and Josiah Shackelford. It also shows Georgia State's offense, led by Meyer and Jaden Jackson, keeping a close game against a Bowling Green team that pulled ahead late.
Bowling Green's 10-0 second-half run broke a 34-34 tie with 15:51 remaining, and Howell added 13 second-half points. The source does not report shooting percentages beyond Tristan Beckford's 5-of-6 field goal mark.
The players
Zach Howell
Howell is a Bowling Green guard who led all scorers with 28 points and added eight rebounds in the season opener.
Jacob Meyer
Meyer is a Georgia State guard who scored 25 points and added seven assists and two steals in the loss.
The details
Bowling Green used a 10-0 second-half run to break a 34-34 tie and close out the 76-73 win over Georgia State. Howell led the Falcons with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Shackelford added 12 points and nine rebounds and Beckford scored 12.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Bowling Green defeats Georgia State 76-73 in the season opener.
Season Trajectory
A season-opening win provides an early data point for Bowling Green's rotation depth and scoring balance across the Sun Belt. The result also gives Georgia State an early read on whether its offense led by Meyer and Jackson can keep games close against conference-level competition.
Howell's 28-point effort gives fantasy managers a clear early read on Bowling Green's primary scoring option. Fans tracking Georgia State will note that Meyer's 25-point, seven-assist performance was the Panthers' main offensive engine in the defeat.
The takeaway
Bowling Green's ability to score in a 10-0 run late in the second half shows its offense can take over a close game. Watch how the Falcons handle similar pressure as the schedule tightens.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in Basketball as the Falcons open their season.
