Dec. 1, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Jon-Michael Nickerson hit a one-handed jumper with 0.7 seconds left in the game to lift Kennesaw State to a, 66-64, win over USC Upstate on Monday evening at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (5-2, 1-0 A-Sun) won their third straight game and their Atlantic Sun Conference opener as Nickerson, who registered his third double-double of the season, backed in on a pair of Spartan defenders and lofted a soft one-hander that hit nothing but twine.
"I really didn't feel any nerves or pressure taking the last shot," said Nickerson after the game. "It was tied and I knew that if the shot didn't go in we would rally in overtime."
Nickerson ended the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Owls moved three games over the .500 mark for the first time since becoming a Division I member.
"You know this is such a special group," boasted KSU head coach Tony Ingle after the game. "Every night we have different players who step up for us from J.D. Pollock, John Allison, Kelvin McConnell, Kurtis Woods and tonight J-Mac and don't forget about Zadrian [Gibson]. He was huge for us."
Gibson, a walk-on had nine points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots including a monster rejection of 7-foot-3-inch Nick Schneiders on what appeared to be a two-handed tomahawk slam before Gibson stuffed the attempt back down on the seven-footer with just under 10 minutes left in the game and with the scored tied at 53-53.
"Zadrian was the X-factor tonight," added Coach Ingle. "He was all over the place and they didn't have an answer for him."
In a game that saw nine ties and 10 lead changes, the Owls trailed, 64-62, with a little over three minutes remaining. However, it was freshman Spencer Dixon (3-for-9, 12 points) who stepped up for the Owls and tied the game on a jumper with 1:45 left, setting up Nickerson's eventual game-winner.
"J-Mac was cool and composed on that last shot," commented Ingle. "Everyone in the arena and on the bench is screaming, jumping up and down and yelling and J-Mac was just as cool as could be, taking his time and making the shot."
It looked to be a rough night early as USC Upstate (0-5, 0-1 A-Sun) jumped out to an 8-0 lead four minutes into the game. The Spartans held a lead for the better part of the first half until a Gibson three-pointer at the 4:04 mark sparked a 14-2 run to end the half.
A jumper by Kelvin McConnell was followed by a three-pointer as the sophomore guard tied the game at 30-30. The Owls would take their first lead of the game when Spencer Dixon hit a pair of free-throws before Gibson ended the half on a put-back as KSU took a 36-32 advantage into the locker room.
The Owls will have a brief break for finals before heading south to play the Rattlers of Florida A&M on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla.
