By: by Scott Lipsky
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls perfect start to the season came to an end on Wednesday night, when Markeith Cummings’ 29 points weren’t enough in a, 73-69, loss to the Chattanooga Mocs at the KSU Convocation Center. Reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Co-Player of the Week Spencer Dixon added 17 points for the Black and Gold.
Down 71-69 with eight seconds to go, Owls (2-1) forward LaDaris Green drove the lane and made a nice to give himself an opportunity at a layup that would tie the game, but his contested attempt spun out and went out of bounds, with possession going to Chattanooga. After a Kelvin McConnell foul, the Mocs (1-2) were able to put the game out of reach courtesy of a pair of free throws by Josh Odem to make it a two possession game with just four seconds remaining in the game.
“I thought we came out pretty good. We really wanted to be undefeated at 3-0, but after a grinding out kind of game, we made some mistakes,” Owls head coach Tony Ingle said. “I was pleased with their effort, but we have to tune up some things. There are some obvious mental issues that we have to work on. It is November 17th; we have to get on it.”
The contest was a tight one for most of the way, with Tony Ingle’s squad taking a 32-28 lead into the locker room after getting off to an 11-2 start. They continued to lead all the way until there was 12:53 left in the contest, when a three-pointer by Odem, who had 14 points on the evening, made it a 45-45 game, the first of eight ties that during the latter stages of the game.
After struggling from the floor during the first half, the Black and Gold began to use their advantageous foul situation midway through the second half to put some points on the board and stay out in front. Getting into the bonus with 10:13 still left in the game, the Owls would make nine free throws over a span of 2:28 in which they took just one shot. They led 56-54 with 8:07 to go in the game and extended the lead to four on a layup by Cummings off a nifty pass from senior guard Kelvin McConnell to make it 58-54, breaking a 4:47 drought without a field goal.
Their lead was four once again with 3:31 remaining when the Mocs went on a 7-0 run, on the strength of a pair of layups by DeAntre Jefferson, who led the team with 16 points, to give them a 69-66 lead. Junior guard Spencer Dixon would make a clutch three from the top of the key with 1:41 left to tie it at 69, but that was the last time the Owls wouldn’t trail. Jefferson’s layup 17 seconds later would prove to be the game winner, giving the Mocs their first win of the 2010-11 campaign and the Owls their first loss.
McConnell led the Owls in bench scoring for the third consecutive game, notching 10 points for the second straight game.
The Black and Gold hit the road for the first time this season when they face Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala., for the first game of the Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST.
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| Coach Ingle postgame statement |
