By: by Mark Toma
KENNESAW, Ga. – After Kennesaw State celebrated Senior Night at the KSU Convocation Center, the Owls looked to snap their four-game losing streak and send their three seniors out on a high note. North Florida, however, had other ideas as they stopped the Black and Gold, 66-60.
The game was tied at halftime between the two teams who entered the game tied for seventh place in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Owls (12-17, 7-11 A-Sun) shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half as Markeith Cummings, who scored a game-high 16 points, had 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field before intermission.
After two ties and four lead changes in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, the Ospreys (13-15, 8-10 A-Sun) used a 7-0 run to seize the game and move a game up on the Owls with two remaining as they completed their first season sweep of Kennesaw State since they were Division II rivals in 2000-01.
Stan Januska hit a three-pointer, Brad Haugabrook followed with a jumper and David Jeune hit a lay-up in two minutes to give the Ospreys a 41-34 lead. Kennesaw State would get no closer than four points the rest of the contest and twice fell behind by 10 points.
The game was evenly played as each team shot 22-for-52 from the field. But, the glaring difference came in the rebounding category, as the Owls were out-rebounded, 38-25, including a seven-rebound difference on the offensive glass. The edge led to a difference-making 19-13 advantage in second chance points in favor of the Ospreys.
Andy Diaz had a double-double for North Florida, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Eni Cuka led North Florida with 14 points while Jeune chipped in 10 points. Kurtis Woods scored 16 points for the Owls, as he and Cummings were the only two Kennesaw State players to score in double figures.
The Owls conclude the regular season with a two-game road trip, as they travel to Tennessee to play Nashville-based Lipscomb and Belmont on Thursday and Saturday before heading to Macon to play in the program’s first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.
Thursday’s game with the Bisons is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. eastern standard time. The game can be heard live on 920 am WGKA as well as on-line at www.920WGKA.com. Jason Hanes, play-by-play and Scott Webb, color analyst, will call the action beginning with the Peachtree Orthopedic Clinic Pregame Show beginning at 8:00 p.m.
