By: by Mark Toma
Box Score
KENNESAW, GA. – Jon-Michael Nickerson scored a game-high 18 points and Markeith Cummings recorded his first collegiate double-double as Kennesaw State led from the outset and defeated North Georgia, 78-65, on Saturday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (2-0) won their first two games of the year for the first time since the beginning of the 2004 season when they reeled off four consecutive wins to start the season. Matt Heramb and Jonathan Whipple scored quickly and Cummings added a three-pointer as the Owls scored the first seven points and led 11-2 before the first media timeout.
The Black and Gold, who never trailed in the game, had 11 different players score in the game as they took an 18-point advantage into the locker room and led by as many as 32 points less than six minutes into the second half.
“We played well tonight and this was a good win for us,” said Nickerson, who scored in double-figures for the second straight night. “But, we have still have a lot of things to work.”
The Kennesaw State defense was solid as they caused 20 North Georgia turnovers in the game and held the Saints to just 38 percent shooting from the field and 16 percent from beyond the arc.
LaDaris Green, who had six points and seven rebounds, had three blocks as KSU swiped six North Georgia attempts. Last night, Whipple enjoyed a trio of blocks as the Owls have recorded 11 blocks so far this season.
Heramb and Spencer Dixon had nine points while Kelvin McConnell added eight points and had a pair of three-pointers. Bernard Rimmer led North Georgia with 14 points while Andrew Bennett scored 10 and added nine rebounds.
The Owls will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22 when they travel north to play Saint Louis in the first game of the Chicago Invitational. The Black and Gold will then play Notre Dame on Nov. 24 in South Bend, Ind. before heading to Chicago to play Tennessee State and either Liberty or Mississippi Valley State on Thanksgiving weekend.
