Feb. 9, 2009
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - After eight ties and five lead changes, the Owls found themselves within a shot of their second straight overtime game. Jacksonville was on the verge of their third straight loss and Jon-Michael Nickerson was eyeing a three-pointer that would make him a hero for the second time this season. None of it happened.
The Owls (7-16, 3-11 A-Sun) put up their most valiant effort of the season as they pushed Jacksonville (13-10, 11-3 A-Sun) to the limit before falling, 59-56, on Monday night at the KSU Convocation Center. Nickerson's potential game-tying, three-pointer from the top of the key with one second remaining skidded off the front of the rim as the Owls failed to win their second straight game.
"I am so proud of our guys," said KSU head coach Tony Ingle after the game. "They worked every second over those forty minutes and I couldn't be any more proud of the effort we gave."
Although the Owls never led in the second half and trailed by 10 points on four different occasions, they rallied late to cut a nine-point Dolphins lead to just three with 49 seconds left. Kelvin McConnell scored five points in less than a minute including a long-range three-pointer to bring the Owls within a basket.
"I had a good look and was able to concentrate and hit it," said McConnell, who also hit a last second shot on Saturday to force overtime against North Florida.
Nickerson, who controlled the overtime against UNF, hit three-free throws down the stretch to keep the Owls within striking distance before getting the last second shot off with two Jacksonville players on either side. The Owls connected on just 3-of-19 three-pointers in the game, better than Jacksonville who made just 1-of-11 from distance.
Kennesaw State did one of the things they needed to do and that was control the boards. The Owls out-rebounded Jacksonville, 30-24, and held an impressive 14-6 advantage on the offensive glass thanks to four offensive boards by both Artie Marine and Jonathan Whipple.
The Owls had three players score in double figures with Nickerson leading the way with 13 points. The Millbrook, Ala. native scored his 500th career point in the first half when he hit a lay-up just 19 seconds into the game. McConnell, who scored his 500th point last week, scored 12 points while Spencer Dixon added 10 points.
Marine had another strong game for the owls, scoring seven points and grabbing a career-high five rebounds. Jay Mitchell scored six points and had two rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Jacksonville also had three players score in double figures led by Lehmon Colbert who had 13 points. Ben Smith was held to just 12 points while Aric Brooks had 10 points. Travis Cohn had a career-high six steals in the game, five in the first half.
Kennesaw State was prevented from getting its second straight win for the third time. The Owls have not won consecutive games since they beat USC Upstate on Dec. 1 for their season-high third straight win.
The Owls will be in action this weekend when they travel to Florida to play Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. Kennesaw State will battle the Hatters of Stetson on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. before playing FGCU on Monday at 7:00 p.m.
