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LEWIS PRESTON INTERVIEW |
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State opened its game against Georgia Southern by hitting four of its first five shots and built an early nine-point lead. However, the Owls were unable to sustain that momentum as the Eagles rallied for a 62-46 victory at the KSU Convocation Center on Wednesday.
The Owls (1-5) were led by senior forward
Markeith Cummings (Birmingham, Ala. / Beach HS) who scored a game-high 22 points on eight of 12 shooting after being recognized before the game for setting the Kennesaw State all-time career scoring record last Sunday.
Cummings scored the first eight points of the game as he hit a pair of three-pointers and made two free throws while helping the Owls build a 13-4 lead less than five minutes into the game.
Kennesaw State was able to hold the lead throughout the first half and took a 25-24 advantage into halftime. The Owls hit four of their first five shots before finishing the period converting 8 of 20 (40.0 percent) field goal attempts.
An effective Kennesaw State defense limited Georgia Southern (2-2) to just 36.4 percent (8-for-22) shooting in the first half. However, the Eagles found their stroke in the second half, shooting 58.3 percent from the field, including 60 percent (6-for-10) from beyond the arc.
Senior C.J. Reed sparked Georgia Southern in the second half as he hit a three-pointer less than a minute into the period that gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 27-25. Reed’s basket ignited a 24-9 run by the visitors as they turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 48-34 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
During the run, the Eagles hit five three-pointers, including three by Reed, who finished with nine points. Georgia Southern was led by junior forward Eric Ferguson and freshman guard Cleon Roberts who scored 15 and 10 points, respectively.
“This game comes down to the tale of two halves. We didn’t defend in the second half,” head coach Lewis Preston said. “You can’t let teams score 58 percent in the second half and give up six of 10 from three. I thought we were doing a good job in the first half of the first half attacking and getting the ball inside and then we stopped and decided to settle for perimeter jump shots.
“We are an inside out team. We are not a perimeter jump-shooting team, at least not yet,” Preston added. “Probably the difference in this game comes down to bench points. They had 20, we had eight. Moving forward, we’ll look at this, we’ll break down film and get ready for Saturday.”
The Owls were able to connect on just 35.0 percent (7-for-20) of their field goals in the second half and finished the game with a 37.5 (15-for-40) field goal percentage mark.
Kennesaw State returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Chattanooga at the KSU Convocation Center beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Owls will be holding a toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots. All fans bringing an unwrapped toy to the game will receive $5 off the price of a $10 ticket.
NOTES: Senior forward Markeith Cummings was presented a ball from former Kennesaw State all-time career scoring leader Herman Smith in a pregame ceremony. Smith, who played for the Owls from 1986-1990, concluded his career with 1,683 points. Following his 22-point effort on Wednesday, Cummings currently has 1,715 career points.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
