By: by Mark Toma
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State saw its six-game winning streak snapped when they dropped a, 68-64, decision to USC Upstate on Saturday night at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (12-13, 7-7 A-Sun) were looking to match their longest winning streak since joining Division I, but instead they lost to the Spartans for the fifth time in the last six meetings.
Twice in the first half and twice in the second half USC Upstate (4-18, 4-9 A-Sun) would build double-digit leads. But each time the Owls were able to claw their way back. After slowly chipping away at a 10-point lead, the Black and Gold trailed, 70-63, before going on a run to tie the contest.
A free-throw by LaDaris Green was followed by a Spencer Dixon basket and Markeith Cummings, who scored 16 points, hit a three-pointer and followed a minute later with the game tying free-throw with three minutes left.
However, the Owls couldn’t get any closer as Caleb Palkert, who had a trio of strong baskets in the paint throughout the night, muscled in a lay-up to give the Spartans a, 62-60, lead with 2:23 left in the game.
Kurtis Woods, the game’s high scorer with 19 points, made one of two free-throws to bring Kennesaw State to within a point. The Owls, who were 7-for-17 from the foul line in the game, missed three of six foul shots down the stretch.
Ryan LeGates hit a pair of foul shots to push the Upstate lead to three-points, and Palkert followed with another basket in the paint to give the Spartans a, 66-61, lead with 26 seconds left.
Zadrian Gibson, who played effectively for the second game in a row, hit a short jumper in the paint on the ensuing possession to make the score, 66-63. Woods then swiped the ball from Josh Chavis and feed Cummings who was fouled. The Owls redshirt freshman made one of two free-throws before Chavis clinched the game with two foul shots.
Kennesaw State led early and briefly as they scored the first two points of the game on a lay-up by Jon-Michael Nickerson. The Owls controlled the lead until the 13:32 mark when USC Upstate’s Legates hit a jumper to give the Spartans a 10-9 lead and an advantage they would not relinquish the remainder of the game.
Dixon scored nine points and Nickerson added eight points for KSU while Green had a game-high 10 rebounds. USC Upstate had four players score in double figures with Carter Cook scoring a team-high 15 points. LeGates added 12 while Mezie Uzochukwu hustled his way to 11 points and five rebounds.
The Owls will be back in action on Thursday evening when they open up a two-game road trip against ETSU in Johnson City, Tenn. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and 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 7:00 p.m.
