By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
Postgame Notes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Aaron Anderson scored 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season on Saturday afternoon, but in the end it was three USC Upstate Spartans in double-figures that would doom the Kennesaw State, as they fell, 68-53, at the Hodge Center in their first of four consecutive road games.
It was an early, 12-0, run by the home team that would put the Owls (3-13, 0-5 Atlantic Sun Conference) in an early hole, scoring the first basket of the game before quickly falling behind, 12-2, less than seven minutes into the contest. The first half lead for the Spartans (9-7, 3-1 A-Sun) would grow to as many as 18 points, with the Black and Gold shooting just 8-for-25 from the floor during the first 20 minutes of play.
USC Upstate, for their part, used 15 first-half points from Torrey Craig, who led all scorers in the contest with 28, and 18 points off of 10 Owls turnovers to build a, 37-21, cushion at the break that would withstand several second half rallies by the Black and Gold.
After a Craig three right out of the locker room would put the Spartans up by a game-high 19 points, the Owls began to steadily whittle their deficit down to single digits, thanks in large part to Anderson and Markeith Cummings, who each scored seven points during a 17-6 run that would see the Owls pull to within 46-38 with 11:10 to go in the contest.
The free throw by Cummings, who finished the game with 13 points, that made it an eight point game was a historic one, as it made him the program’s all-time leading scorer at the NCAA Division I level, surpassing Ronell Wooten.
Now down by eight, both squads would trade buckets, a Romain Henry layup off a nice pass from Spencer Dixon cutting it 48-40, before the Spartans would go on a 10-2 run over the next 4:03 that would put the game out of reach, despite the Owls holding the hosts to 11-for-24 shooting in the second half and forcing 10 turnovers after the break.
11 of Anderson’s 15 points came in the second half, the junior improving upon his 8.8 rebounds per game that entered the day leading the A-Sun. He led the squad in scoring despite shooting just 6-for-14 after having gone 13-for-16 over the course of his last two games.
Owls freshman Delbert Love led the way with three assists, while scoring eight points, the third highest total on the squad. Love, along with Cummings and Anderson, were named tri-floor captains by Preston on Friday evening.
Craig added 10 rebounds to join Anderson in double-double territory. He was joined in double figures by Jodd Maxey and Ty Green, who scored 14 and 10, respectively.
Next up for the Black and Gold, who have dropped four straight, is a trip to Johnson City, Tenn., where they will take on the East Tennessee State Bucs. Tip-off at the MHSA/ETSU Arena is slated for 6 p.m.
