Georgia State will be looking to build on its three-game winning streak as it plays host to Kennesaw State Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The up-tempo, high-scoring Panthers have topped 70 or more points in each of those three wins.

The host Panthers will also be trying to keep their perfect series record (4-0) against nearby rival Kennesaw State in the fifth meeting all-time between the two fast-growing universities.

Fans are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy to Sunday's game for Toys for Tots. Each person that brings a new unwrapped toy will receive a voucher to redeem at another basketball game later this season.

Tickets for Sunday's city rivalry game are just $5 and parking is free in the G Deck Lot beside the Sports Arena, off Collins Street.

The game will be broadcast on tape delay on WRAS-FM (88.5) at the conclusion of the men's game that same day.

WINNING WAYS START WITH DEFENSE

If one wants to know why GSU is winning, just look at the national NCAA rankings and one will see the impact the Panthers' aggressiveness is having:

• No. 3 in the NCAA in 3-point field goal defense (.159)
• No. 17 in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (6.0)
• No. 18 in the NCAA in all field goal defense (.318)
• No. 46 in the NCAA in rebound margin (+8.0)
• No. 86 in the NCAA in steals per game (10.6)

The offense then follows the defensive efforts by averaging 71.6 points per game, ranking No. 59 among the NCAA's 345 Division I universities. The Panthers shoot at a 42 percent rate, No. 80 in the NCAA. When they get to the charity stripe, they take the free points at a 71.8 rate, No. 84 in the NCAA.

Following this game, GSU will have its longest break of the season, taking the final fall semester exams before coming back to game action in 11 days with a trip to former conference rival Belmont in Nashville on Dec. 13.

GEORGIA STATE-KENNESAW STATE SERIES HISTORY

Georgia State and Kennesaw State are separated by 25 miles of Interstate 75. Coach Baldwin-Tener played two seasons at Kennesaw as an all-district and all-conference star averaging 18 ppg as a freshman and 20 ppg as a sophomore before going on to UGA.

The teams have met only four times previously, with Georgia State winning all four games. Two have been close (+3 and +6 point wins) and two have been blow-outs (+25 and +26-point margins).

Last year, Georgia State was coasting along with a 15-point lead with five minutes to play, when Kennesaw rallied to narrow the game to its final six-point margin at 65-59. GSU was coming off a 10-day finals layoff and the visiting Owls capitalized on the Panthers' not being quite ready to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Coach Baldwin-Tener called time out with 17:02 and substituted all five players to get a little spark.

Three years ago, GSU opened the 2009-10 season with a successful debut in a 77-52 thrashing of the Owls in Kennesaw.

FAST STARTS ARE FIRST KEY TO SUCCESS

Georgia State has started strong from the opening tip to get the tempo the way it likes and get a lead it won't relinquish:

• UCF - 4-0, 17-3, 31-13, 39-24 at halftime (+15)
• JSU - 13-2, 20-5, 30-10 and 43-28 at halftime (+15)
• Ga Southern - 4-0, 14-4, 22-7, 30-13 and 34-18 at halftime (+16)
• Fla. A&M - 8-0, 16-3, 32-12 and 41-18 at halftime (+23)

Even in the loss at Florida, GSU battled early. It was 8-8 after seven minutes and 10-10 after eight minutes. GSU was down only 16-12 after 11 minutes of play with the No. 24 RPI Gators. The problem for GSU was getting the ball into the basket as the Panthers got off 41 to 29 shots in the first half against Florida, but made just 26.8%. GSU also held a 30-20 rebound advantage at the half in crashing the boards hard and often.

BALANCE HAS BEEN AN ASSET

Georgia State has used all 10 players who dress out on a regular basis throughout the first five games of the season.

• All 10 have played 60 or more minutes (61-to-139) and all averaged more than 12 minutes a game (12.2-to-27.8).
• All 10 have scored at least 5 points in a game, 8 have scored 8 or more points in a game.
• Six have scored in double figures, four different ones have scored 15 or more points in a game.
• The 10 have each had two or more rebounds in a game in 43 of the possible 50 times. Three different players already have had a double-figure rebound game.
• Seven of the 10 are averaging 7 or more points a game.
• Nine of the 10 have two or more assists; Seven of the 10 have already blocked a shot.