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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – With two of its frontline players on the bench for a majority of the game in foul trouble, the Kennesaw State men's basketball team had a difficult time matching up with the size of IPFW.
The Mastodons (6-7) used that advantage to their benefit during a 70-47 victory over the Owls (1-10) Friday at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Senior forward
Aaron Anderson and junior center
Andrew Osemhen were forced to watch from the bench during a good portion of the second half as IPFW broke open what was a close game at halftime, outscoring Kennesaw State 44-25 in the second half.
Both Anderson and Osemhen played just 19 minutes each. With the pair on the bench, IPFW was consistently able to get the ball inside to its big men, which eventually created open outside shots for the Mastodons.
Senior guard Frank Gaines scored a game-high 22 points to lead a quartet of IPFW players in double figures. Senior forward Mario Hines came off the bench score 16 points and total eight rebounds while junior forward Luis Jacobo chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Junior forward Michael Kibiloski added 10 points and hit two big three-pointers early in the second half that helped the Mastodons break away.
Senior forward Markeith Cummings led the Owls with 20 points, collected four rebounds and had three steals.
Anderson was limited to just eight minutes of action in the first half after picking up two fouls and was called for his fourth foul and forced to the bench with 13:33 remaining and the Owls trailing 41-31. Osemhen, who also was charged with two fouls and played 13 minutes in the first half, picked up his fourth foul with 12 minutes to play.
During a six-minute span with Anderson on the bench, IPFW outscored Kennesaw State 15-10 to build its lead to 56-41 with 7:34 remaining.
The Owls also were hurt by 17 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Mastodons. IPFW also shot 40 percent (6-for-15) from behind the three-point arc, while Kennesaw State was just 1-for-10 on three-point attempts. The Mastodons finished the game shooting 50 percent (24-for-48) from the field.
Kennesaw State concludes its stretch of the three road games in five days when it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center beginning at 5 p.m. The game will be televised live by Comcast Sports South.
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
