By: by Mark Toma
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Markeith Cummings scored a game-high 32 points including a game-tying three-pointer with 3.4 seconds left in regulation, but it was Belmont who controlled overtime as the Bruins stopped the Owls, 75-70, on Thursday at the KSU Convocation Center.
Cummings registered his second double-double of the season, but it was his dramatic three-pointer amidst four Belmont defenders that was the shot of the game and forced overtime.
Belmont (5-2, 1-0, A-Sun) led 56-51 with just 23 seconds left in regulation when redshirt junior Matt Heramb made the first of two clutch three-pointers by the Owls in the waning moments of regulation. Heramb launched the shot from the far corner to bring the Owls to within two points of the Bruins.
With a chance to build a four-point lead, Belmont’s Ian Clark missed the second of two free-throws to make the score 57-54 and give a window of opportunity to Cummings and the Owls who capitalized.
Kennesaw State (3-4, 0-1, A-Sun) connected on six of 12 shots from the field in overtime, but couldn’t overcome Belmont’s perfect 5-for-5 shooting in the extra period which allowed them to build a 68-59 lead in the extra session and escape with a five-point road win in the A-Sun season opener for both teams.
The Owls got off to a quick start in the ballgame, leading 10-3 after the first five minutes on the strength of a pair of three-pointers by Cummings and junior Kelvin McConnell.
Trailing by seven points with 9:52 left in the half, Belmont responded with a 15-0 run that featured 11 points from Keaton Belcher, including a trio of three-point field goals that sandwiched a dunk and put Belmont ahead, 26-18. Belcher would lead the Bruins in scoring on the night, posting 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting,
At the same time, Belmont’s defense forced the Owls into a scoring draught that left the Black and Gold without a point for over nine minutes before redshirt freshman Ladaris Green hit a long-range three to bring the Owls within five points at 26-21.
Shooting just 24 percent in the first half, the Owls trailed by nine points early in the second half. However, the Owls surged to a 34-32 lead after a, 13-2, run was capped by a Spencer Dixon three-pointer with 16:06 remaining.
Belmont would again try to put the Black and Gold away as a 13-0 run gave the visiting Bruins a 45-34 lead. Cummings would again re-energized the crowd as he ended the Bruins run by making a three pointer and drawing a foul with 11:41 to play. He would make the free throw to pull the Owls to within 45-38 and to complete KSU’s first four-point play since December 30, 2007.
With the Owls trailing 50-42 with 8:51 to play, Green, who finished the night with 10 points and nine rebounds, scored five unanswered points to pull his team back to within three before a Dixon lay-up made it 50-49 with 7:47 left to play.
The Owls will be back in action on Saturday evening, Dec. 5 when they host Lipscomb at 7:30 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center. The game can be heard live on 920am WGKA and is available online at
www.920WGKA.com. Play-by-Play announcer Craig Corbin and color analyst Scott Webb will call the action. Saturday night’s game is Teddy Bear Toss Night at the KSU Convocation Center.
