Feb. 23, 2008
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Owls used a furious comeback in the second half to trim a Jacksonville lead from 20 points to one point, but the Dolphins were able to hold off Kennesaw State, 84-79, on Saturday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Owls (9-20, 6-9 A-Sun) were looking for their fourth straight win and needed a victory to keep their chances at a third consecutive .500 record in the conference alive, but came up just short as they lost their 20th game of the season.
A quick run by Jacksonville broke open a 40-40 halftime score. The Dolphins and the Owls exchanged baskets to begin the second half, but the Dolphins promptly went on a 24-4 run over the next 7:17 to take 66-46 lead. Jacksonville went on a 7-0 run before Shuan Stegall hit a short runner. Stegall came up with his third straight double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Jacksonville (15-11, 11-3 A-Sun) would follow with a 10-0 run before Jonathan Whipple delivered a jumper in the paint to momentarily stop the assault. The Dolphins were not finished, however, as they went on another 7-0 run.
Facing their largest deficit of the game, senior Ronell Wooten would rise to the occasion as he has done numerous times during his career with the Owls. The Statesboro, Ga. native hit back-to-back three-pointers in 20 seconds to cut the Dolphins lead to 14 points. Wooten scored a team-high 22 points before fouling out less than two minutes later.
For the next minute, Kennesaw state would stay 14 points behind before Stegall ignited the Owls. Stegall scored on a lay-up and was fouled by Aric Brooks and after making the free-throw, the Owls trailed by 11 points. J.D. Pollock followed with a lay-up, Stegall hit a pair of free-throws and Kelvin McConnell scored on a fast break lay in to make the score 71-66 with 6:09 left in the game.
Jacksonville and Kennesaw State would exchange baskets on the next two possessions before McConnell would deliver again for the Owls, hitting a three-pointer to bring the Owls to within two points.
After missing a chance to tie the game with 4:30 left, Jacksonville's Lehmon Colbert hit a short jumper to give JU a 75-71 lead. Baskets by McConnell and Stegall brought Kennesaw State to within a point with 2:31 left.
Ayron Hardy hit a pair of free-throws for a three-point Jacksonville lead. The Owls had chances to keep the game close, but two missed shots and a turnover on the next three KSU possessions dimmed the hopes of the Black and Gold. Stingy defense, a basket by Stegall and a Jacksonville turnover gave the Owls the ball with 20 seconds left but a turnover by McConnell ended the Owls hopes.
McConnell ended the game with 14 points while Whipple scored seven points and Tanner Jacobs added six points. Ben Smith led all scorers with 24 points while Marcus Allen added 21 for the Dolphins. The Owls shot 43.3 percent from the field while Jacksonville connected on 49.1 percent from the field. The Dolphins held an 11-point advantage at the free-throw line, going 26-for-37 from the charity stripe while KSU made 15-of-23 from the line.
Kennesaw State will conclude the season on Friday evening when they travel to Macon, Ga. to play the Mercer Bears on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised regionally on Comcast as the Atlantic Sun Conference Game of the Week. The game can also be heard on SuperTalk 1230/1340 AM.
