Nov. 14, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Freshman Kurtis Woods led all scorers with 19 points in his collegiate debut as Kennesaw State downed Western Illinois, 85-63, in the first round of the 100 Club Classic at the KSU Convocation Center on Friday evening.
The Owls (1-0) wasted no time getting ahead of the Leathernecks (0-1) as two baskets by Jon-Michael Nickerson and a jumper by J.D. Pollock gave the Black and Gold a 6-0 lead just over a minute into the game.
Within six minutes KSU had built a double-digit lead on a three-pointer by Jonathan Whipple and the Owls never led by less than eight points the remainder of the evening. On the night, the Black and Gold would connect on 16-of-28 three-pointers as seven different KSU players hit a long-range shot.
Kennesaw State shot 54 percent from the field and had three players hit double figures as they won on Opening Night for the first time since the 2004 season, their last Division II year, when they beat Benedict at the Spec Landrum Centre.
Pollock scored 16 points on a 6-for-10 shooting night while Nickerson added 15 points as he connected on 6-of-9 from the field as KSU built a, 51-26, halftime lead.
However, the big night came from Woods. The Huntsville, Ala. native connected on 6-of-7 shots from the floor and made five of his six three-pointers. Woods scored 10 points in the first half and added nine more in the second half, all on three-pointers.
In total, 11 Kennesaw State players scored in the Owls most lopsided win since a 21-point win over North Florida on Jan. 12 last season. Freshman Spencer Dixon had eight points and six assists while senior co-captain Jeff Croft added six points on a pair of three-pointers.
Zadrian Gibson, a sophomore walk-on, had a four-point, six-rebound, three block night. Point guard Kelvin McConnell scored five points and dished out six assists without a turnover. KSU only committed 10 turnovers in the game.
In the opening game of the 100 Club Classic, Maine defeated Northern Illinois, 77-64, behind a 24-point performance by Gerald McLemore.
The 100 Club Classic will conclude on Championship Saturday as Western Illinois plays Northern Illinois at 5:00 p.m. in the consolation game. At 7:30 p.m., the Owls will play the Black Bears in the championship game.
Inside the Nest
Jonathan Whipple's three-pointer, one of two on the night, in the first half gave him 200 points for his career...senior co-captain J.D. Pollock made his 20th career start.
