By: by Mark Toma
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Markeith Cummings scored 17 points and LaDaris Green added 12 points, but it wasn’t enough offense for Kennesaw State, as the Owls fell to East Tennessee State, 63-46, on Thursday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (5-10, 1-4 A-Sun) suffered another poor shooting first half, as they scored just 13 points in the opening stanza and trailed ETSU, 29-13, at the break, setting a season mark for their lowest point total in a half. The Black and Gold went 5-for-28 in the first 20 minutes, yet they were within two possessions of the Bucs at the six-minute mark of the first half.
The Kennesaw State defense was able to keep the game relatively close by holding ETSU to 36 percent shooting in the first half, including 1-for-11 from three-point range, but could never cut into the Buccaneers lead, as ETSU (8-7, 4-0 A-Sun) ended the first half on a 13-3 run.
The second half saw the Owls climb to within 16 points early in the half, but they could not come any closer the rest of the night as the Black and Gold finished with their lowest scoring output of the season.
The Owls backcourt of Kelvin McConnell, Spencer Dixon and Kurtis Woods were a combined 3-for-20 from the floor, including 1-for-13 from three-point range, as the Owls shot a season low 16 percent beyond the arc. ETSU did not fare much better from outside, making just 3-of-17 shots from long distance.
LaDaris Green had nine rebounds to go along with his 12 points, finishing just one rebound short of his second double-double on the season. He also led all players with three blocks.
East Tennessee State’s Tommy Hubbard led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Justin Tubbs added 10 points for the first-place Buccaneers, who remained undefeated in the conference.
The Owls return to the court on Saturday evening when they host Campbell. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. You can listen to the game on-line at www.920wgka.com or on the radio at 920 AM WGKA. Play-by-play announcer Craig Corbin and color analyst Scott Webb will call the action, with the pre-game show beginning at 7 p.m.
