Nov. 16, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Owls home opener gave the crowd everything they wanted and more on Friday night. Shuan Stegall registered a double-double, Ryan Daugherty hit a three-pointer to bring the Owls back with under two minutes left to play as Kennesaw State held off a stubborn Jacksonville State team to capture an 80-74 win at the KSU Convocation Center in the second game of the 100 Club Classic.
Kennesaw State (1-2) had four players score in double-figures with Stegall's 19 points leading the way. Stegall came close to registering the Owls first-ever triple-double by adding six assists as the Owls won their home opener for the second time in three years.
In a wild second half that tied three and exchanged four lead changes, the Owls trailed by two points with 2:27 left before Daugherty, who scored 10 points, drained a long-range three-pointer to give Kennesaw State a 73-72 lead. The shot ignited a 9-0 to give the Owls their first win of the season.
After pushing he lead to seven points, early in the half, the Owls saw their lead vanish as Jacksonville State (1-2) tied the game at the 14:28 mark with a basket by DeAndre Bray. The game would be tied twice more before the owls would regain control of the lead.
Tanner Jacobs, who scored a career-high 18 points, would give the Owls a two-point lead when he made a lay-up and hit a foul shot as the traditional three-point play gave KSU a 56-54 lead with 10:26 left in the game. Three times the Owls would push their lead to seven points, the final time coming when Jacobs hit a pair of free-throws for a 68-61 lead with 5:14 left.
However, it was then that J.J. Wesley (5-for-9, 15 points) took over for Jacksonville State. Wesley would hit three of his five three-pointers in the next 2:18 to give the gamecocks a 72-70 lead with 2:27 left in the game.
The Owls finished with four players in double-figures while JSU's Dorien Brown scored a game-high 22 points.
Kennesaw State will play Colgate in the championship game tomorrow beginning at 7:30 p.m. In the consolation game, Jacksonville State will take on Texas State at 5:00 p.m.
