By: by Mark Toma
Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Jon-Michael Nickerson scored a team-high 17 points, and Markeith Cummings added 14, but it was 58 percent shooting from Saint Louis that did in Kennesaw State as the Owls fell to the Billikens, 76-66, in the first game of the Chicago Invitational Challenge on Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena.
After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Owls (2-1) were tenacious as they made their move on Saint Louis (3-0) throughout the final minutes of the game. A three-pointer by the game’s leading scorer, Kyle Cassity (7-for-9, 18 points), put the Owls down by 12 points with 5:52 left to play, but once again the Black and Gold roared back and dug into Billikens lead.
A free-throw by senior Jonathan Whipple ignited furious a 10-2 run over the next minute and 41 seconds as the Owls trimmed the Saint Louis lead to 64-60 with 4:11 left in the game. Kennesaw State received traditional three-point plays by Nickerson and Spencer Dixon that sandwiched a long-range, three-pointer by Kurtis Woods as KSU silenced the six-thousand-plus in attendance at Chaifitz Arena.
However, that was as close as Kennesaw State would get as the Saint Louis’ Brian Conklin hit a free-throw before Kwamain Mitchell (3-for-5) and Cassity hit back-to-back lays-up to push the lead to nine points with just under three minutes remaining.
Even though the Owls shot an impressive 50 percent from the field in the second half, while finishing at 42.6 percent for the game, it was the 65.4 percent second-half shooting from Saint Louis that was the difference in the game.
The Billikens jumped out to an early lead on the Owls, scoring the first eight points of the afternoon and taking a 16-4 lead just over four minutes into the game. With the Owls trailing by 14 points and game in danger of slipping away, Nickerson sparked a crucial rally, scoring the final nine points during an 11-1 run that brought KSU within four points with 7:45 left in the half.
A steal at halftime court and a thundering slam by Cummings brought the Owls within three points at intermission. After the break, however, the Billikens went on an 11-0 run over the first three minutes of the second half as they held a 42-28 lead with 17:45 left in the contest.
The Owls committed just nine turnovers in the game while forcing Saint Louis to make 16 turnovers. The Black and Gold also enjoyed a 12-8 advantage on the offensive glass with Cummings and Ladaris Green each having a game-high three offensive boards. Dixon scored 10 points and Woods added eight. Christian Salecich scored 15 points while Willie Reed added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Saint Louis.
The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday evening when they visit South Bend, Ind. to play the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live on 920am WGKA, as well as online at www.920WGKA.com.
