Feb. 20, 2009
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Once again the Owls gave Belmont all they could handle, but a late first half rally by the first-place Bruins was too much for Kennesaw State to overcome as Belmont upended KSU, 54-39, on Friday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (7-19, 3-14 A-Sun) went toe-for-toe with the Bruins for the first 16 minutes of the game as no team saw a lead of more than four points. The game was tied at 16 with just over four minutes remaining before Belmont (17-9, 13-4 A-Sun) ended the half on a 10-2 run for a, 26-18, halftime lead.
Kennesaw State fought valiantly in the second half as they twice came within eight points after the Bruins built an 18-point second half lead, 42-24 with 10:08 left in the game.
"I was proud of how hard our guys fought tonight," said Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle. "We did not loose our intensity or determination for one second in this game and we played well against the first-place team in our conference."
While the Black and Gold held the Bruins to their lowest point total of the season, 23 points below their average, and also stopped Belmont's vaunted three-point attack, the Owls couldn't overcome a poor shooting night themselves.
The Owls shot just 28.6 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from three-point range as they scored a program-low 39 points for the second time in a week. The Bruins made just 7-of-23 shots from distance, their third lowest number of three-pointers in a game this season.
Freshman Spencer Dixon led the Owls in scoring with nine points, including hitting two of the three Kennesaw State three-pointers and also had six steals. Jonathan Whipple added seven points.
Keaton Belcher led all scorers with 12 points as Belmont had three players score in double figures. Alex Renfroe and Matthew Dotson each scored 11 points as the Bruins won their third straight game.
The Owls will be back in action for their regular season finale on Sunday afternoon when they host Lipscomb on Senior Day. The Owls will honor co-captains Jeff Croft and J.D. Pollock in a pre-game ceremony.
