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LEWIS PRESTON INTERVIEW
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State cut a 20-point second-half deficit down to nine points with under two minutes to play but was unable to complete the comeback as the Owls fell 65-51 to Chattanooga Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center.
Kennesaw State (1-6) fell behind early as Chattanooga (2-4) came out with the hot hand, shooting 68.2 percent (15-for-22) from the field in the first half and building a 17-point halftime lead. Junior forward Z. Mason led the charge, scoring 12 of his team-high 14 points on five of seven shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
Mason was one of four Chattanooga players to score in double figures as he was joined by freshman guard Gee McGhee, who contributed 12 points, and Drazen Zlovaric and Ronrico White who each added 10 points apiece.
Senior forward
Markeith Cummings led Kennesaw State with a game-high 16 points, while senior forward
Aaron Anderson tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Mocs came out in the second half and built their advantage to 44-24 with 12:11 remaining before the Owls started a comeback, using a 27-15 run to cut the deficit to 59-51 with 1:37 to play. The second-half run was sparked by improved defense and a full-court press that limited Chattanooga to 31.6 percent (6-for-19) shooting and forced 18 turnovers.
“It’s the tale of two halves, plain and simple,” head coach Lewis Preston said. “You can’t beat anyone when you let them shoot 68 percent in the first half. I thought the energy and effort was there a little bit better in the second half.”
“The positive I’ll take out of this is our pressure really bothered UTC in the second half and for them to just shoot 31 percent and 23 turnovers, we can build on that,” Preston added.
While the Kennesaw State won the turnover battle, 23-8, its offense struggled throughout the game, shooting 33.3 percent (18-for-54) from the field, including 3-for-24 from behind the three-point arc.
Kennesaw State returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 1) when it travels to Tennessee to take on Tennessee-Martin beginning at 7 p.m. (ET).
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
