By: by Scott Lipsky
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Following the Owls thrilling, 80-63 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Kennesaw State men’s basketball team will jump right back on the KSU Convocation Center court, hosting the Chattanooga Mocs on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Despite notching what could be considered the program’s first “signature” win since moving to NCAA Division I, they will have little time to reflect on their success and get ready for the Mocs, who take on the Owls for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
“When you play in front of the largest crowd in our home arena, and win of the biggest games in our program’s history, it’s going to be a tough task to get our players physically and emotionally ready to play again this quickly,” Owls head coach Tony Ingle said on Tuesday. “It is our job as a coaching staff, however, to make sure our players are ready to go, and that’s what we’re working to do. Sometimes you don’t necessarily have time to shine your trophy.”
On top of the euphoria gained by the Monday night’s triumph, the Black and Gold also have a lot to celebrate on Tuesday, as junior Spencer Dixon and sophomore Aaron Anderson were named the Atlantic Sun Conference Co-Player and Newcomer of the Week. It was Dixon’s 27 points and Anderson’s 10 rebounds that went a long way towards the Owls success on Monday night.
For Ingle, he currently doesn’t have too much time to reflect on Monday evening, but he knows it could pay dividends for his program down the road.
“I think to a degree, we knew what was at stake, and we know that wins like this can help the program,” said Ingle. When you play teams that are in strong conferences and have played for championships in the past, so I think time will tell when it comes to how this will impact our program.”
In the Mocs, Ingle’s squad is getting a team that returns 11 players from last year’s squad that finished 15-18 overall and 6-12 in the Southern Conference, with four juniors and a senior making up their starting lineup. They have been led in the early-going this season by junior Keegan Bell, who leads the way with 11.5 points per contest in a pair of losses to Tennessee and Austin Peay to begin the season, which includes a 20 point effort against the Vols to kick-off the schedule. Their leading returning scorer from last year’s squad is junior Ricky Taylor, who averaged 11.4 points per contest last season.
The Mocs lead the all-time series over the Owls, 2-0, their last meeting coming on Dec. 29, 2006 in Chattanooga, with the Owls falling, 83-67.
Fans who bring their ticket stub from Monday night’s game will receive Buy One, Get One Free tickets for Wednesday evening’s contest. Fans can also bring old shoes for the program’s Re-Use a Shoe Campaign, and those who do so will receive a free ticket to the Northern Arizona game which takes place on Nov. 22. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth in eighth grade or younger. Kennesaw State students are admitted free with a valid student ID.
