Feb. 4, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Ronell Wooten scored 20 first-half points, but Kennesaw State needed a strong defensive showing in the second half to hold off Gardner-Webb, 59-56, before 649 fans at the KSU Convocation Center on Sunday afternoon.
Chris Gash's (4-for-11) last second three-point attempt skimmed off the rim as the buzzer sounded as Kennesaw State (10-15, 6-7 A-Sun) won their second straight game. The Bulldogs (7-17, 6-7 A-Sun) dropped their second straight game.
The Owls led at the break, but it was a 5-0 run to begin the second half that gave Gardner-Webb a 31-30 lead. However, senior point guard Golden Ingle (3-for-11) quickly brought the Owls back with a pair of three-pointers in less than a minute.
The persistent Bulldogs stayed close to the Owls and led for nearly four minutes before Brent Ragsdale hit a free-throw and a short jumper to give Kennesaw State the lead they would never relinquish.
While the Bulldogs found an answer for Wooten (7-for-13) and limit the Owls top player to just two points in the second half, it was Ingle (3-for-11) who had the Bulldogs baffled as he scored 10 second half points.
Kennesaw State built their lead to six points with 4:24 left to play but Takayo Siddle (5-for-8) single-handedly kept the Bulldogs close reeling off six straight points to bring Gardner-Webb within three-points.
A pair of free-throws by Matt French (4-for-5) cut the lead to one, but André Morgan flowed with a quick jumper to push the lead to three-points. After a French layup again cut into the Owls lead, Ingle drained two free-throws with nine seconds left to give the Owls their final margin of victory.
Wooten was electrifying in the first half scoring 20 points including five three-pointers. The Owls second-leading scorer helped push Kennesaw State to a 28-14 lead before Gardner-Webb fought back with a 12-2 to end the half and go into halftime trailing 30-26.
Kennesaw State swept the season-series with the Bulldogs for the first time in school history and lead the all-time series by a 3-1 advantage. The sweep is also the first for the Owls this season. KSU has a chance to get season sweeps when they play North Florida and Jacksonville this weekend.
The Owls will head to Jacksonville, Fla. to play North Florida on Thursday and Jacksonville on Saturday. A non-conference battle with Georgia in Athens is set for Feb. 14 before Kennesaw State heads home for the remaining three games of the regular season.
