Jan. 13, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Shuan Stegall scored a game-high 27 points and Golden Ingle registered a double-double as Kennesaw State downed Jacksonville, 83-76, before a raucous crowd on Saturday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
The streaking Owls (7-12, 3-3 A-Sun) shot 53 percent as they won their second straight game and moved to .500 in the conference while Jacksonville (7-9, 3-3 A-Sun) suffered another road defeat.
In a tight, well-played contest, the Owls trailed by as many a 10 points, twice in the first half, before trimming the Jacksonville lead to 35-30 at halftime.
However, it was a quick start in the second half that turned the KSU fortunes. Ronell Wooten (5-for-9) hit a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half as Kennesaw State outscored the Dolphins, 8-2, in the first 73 seconds of the second half.
Jacksonville's Marcus Allen (3-for-8) hit a layup in the paint to give JU a 39-38 lead with 18:17 remaining, but that was the last time the visitors would lead. Stegall (11-for-13), who was nearly unstoppable in the paint in one of his strongest outings of the season down low, hit a layup and Golden Ingle (1-for-7) followed with a three-pointer to give KSU a four-point lead with 16:59 left.
Twice in the next five minutes were the Owls able to build their lead to as many as eight points, but with 11:35 left Jacksonville pushed the owls and their head coach Tony Ingle one last time.
Six free-throws and baskets by Jesse Kimbrough (7-for-11) and Tyrone Curnell 92-for-5) made the score 61-60 before Jonathan Whipple 91-for-3) took a Brent Ragsdale (4-for-8) pass and converted a layup in a mass of bodies underneath the JU basket for a three-point lead with 9:05 left.
Kennesaw State was able to push the game to a two-possession score over the final five minutes and then converted 9 of 14 free-throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.
In addition to Stegall's 27 points, Wooten scored 14 while Ingle added 13 points and 12 assists. Jon-Michael Nickerson (6-for-10) scored 12 points while Ragsdale had another double-digit scoring night with 10 points.
Kimbrough and Lehmon Colbert each scored 17 points to pace Jacksonville while Marcus Allen had 10 points.
The Owls will be back in action on Monday afternoon when they battle longtime rival North Florida in a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday afternoon match up. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
