Jan. 5, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - How often do you see a pair of buzzer beaters in one game? Well, the 1,148 fans at the KSU Convocation Center witnessed the rare feat on Saturday night as the Mercer Bears defeated the Owls, 77-75, in overtime in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams.
In one of the most exciting games to be played on the Owls home court, hometown hero Ronell Wooten (6-for-18) sent the game into overtime with a dramatic, half-court, three-pointer as time expired in regulation.
However, the excitement of Wooten's remarkable shot was cut short when Mercer's Calvin Henry (2-for-6) stunned the raucous KSU crowd when he made a short jumper in front of the Bear's bench as the clock ran out in overtime.
"It was some game," said Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle. "We never gave up. We played hard for all 45 minutes and I am very proud of our guys and they effort they gave tonight."
The wild affair saw 12 ties, 15 lead changes and a trio of double-doubles. The Owls (2-12, 0-1 A-Sun) saw both Shuan Stegall and Tanner Jacobs come up with double-digit numbers along with Mercer's Brian Pfohl.
Jacobs, set a Kennesaw State freshman record and Convocation Center mark with 18 rebounds while also scoring 17 points. Stegall registered his third double-double of the season with a 22-point, 17 rebound effort. Kelvin McConnell (4-for-10) had his second straight double-digit scoring night with a 14-point performance.
Pfohl scored 13 points and added 12 rebounds for the Bears, but it was James Florence who led all scorers with 28 points on a 10-for-25 shooting night. Shaddean Aaron (4-for-12) added 13 points.
The overtime period saw three ties and four lead changes, as both Mercer (6-8, 1-0) and KSU could not build a lead greater than three points. The Owls would take a pair of two point leads in the extra period while Mercer would hold a three-point advantage after a lay-up by Florence and a tip-in by Dolan.
Jacobs (8-for-18) brought the Owls to within a point on a short jumper in the lane with :32 left to play. After a steal by Wooten, a strong foul by Pfohl on Jacobs brought the Owls freshman to the bench after falling hard on his tailbone.
Ryan Daugherty entered the game for Jacobs and made one of two free-throws to tie the contest with :11 seconds left before Henry's shot gave Mercer the win.
In regulation, the Owls used a ferocious rally in the second half to get back in the game as the Bears built a nine-point lead, 43-34, with 17:12 remaining. KSU chipped into the deficit, using a 16-6 run over the next six-plus minutes to take a 50-49 lead.
Kennesaw State would build their largest lead of the night, 53-49, with 10 minutes left as Stegall buried a three-pointer, capping a 9-0 surge.
The Owls out-rebounded Mercer, 55-46, and held an 11-rebound advantage on the offensive glass. Jon-Michael Nickerson grabbed eight rebounds and scored four points before leaving the game late in the second half after apparently rolling an ankle.
The Black and Gold will be back in action on Thursday evening, January 10, when they host the Dolphins of Jacksonville at 7:30 at the KSU Convocation Center.
