By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
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Postgame Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – Spencer Dixon scored a game-high 19 points to lead three Owls in double figures on Friday evening, as the Kennesaw State Owls fought to the end before dropping a, 61-57, decision, to the Mercer Bears in front of a record crowd of 4,991 at the KSU Convocation Center.
The Owls (3-23, 0-14 Atlantic Sun Conference) trailed by just three points at the half despite shooting just 6-for-26 from the field over the first 20 minutes, and used a, 10-2, run several minutes into the second half to take a, 42-36, lead with 13:26 remaining in the contest. While the lead would not ultimately hold up against the Bears (20-7, 12-2 A-Sun), Owls head coach Lewis Preston was pleased to see the level of energy his players showed throughout the contest.
“I can’t fault the energy or effort we saw from our guys tonight,” Preston commented on the game, which was televised as the CSS/A-Sun Friday Night Game of the Week. “While we had just five free throw attempts in the second half vs. 13 in the first half, which shows we were less aggressive after halftime, this was definitely the best 40 minutes of energy we’ve had through the course of the year.”
Down, 56-52, with 1:10 to play, Markeith Cummings, who finished with 15 points on the night to go along with seven rebounds, would weave his way past two defenders and make a runner in the paint to make it a two-point game. They trailed by six points with 15 seconds to go when a Dixon three, one of his five on the game, made it 60-57. The Bears would go 5-for-7 from the free throw line over the last 52 seconds, however, to seal their ninth straight victory.
The Owls were in the contest for the duration, despite shooting just 18-for-56 (.321) from the field to Mercer’s 24-for-43 (.558), strongly due to 83.3 percent free throw shooting (15-for-18) and 19 offensive rebounds, both season highs, while they out-rebounded the visitors, 31-29. They did not trail by more than six points at any juncture of the game.
“We knew the best chance we had tonight was to attack the glass and get to the free throw line, they’re a tough team to beat, and we had to do everything we could to keep it close,” Cummings said.
Playing in front of the largest home crowd in their history, the Black and Gold did all they could to keep up with the Bears, who came in on an eight-game winning streak and boast the top defense in the A-Sun. The majority of the team struggled to get it going offensively in the first half, with Cummings and Delbert Love combining for 22 of the team’s 24 points before the break. They were able to stay close by way of holding Mercer’s starters to just 17 first-half points, with leading scorer Justin Cecil going scoreless for the game.
The starters for the Bears would pick it up in the second half, with Jakob Gollon and Bud Thomas scoring 12 and 10 points after the break, respectively.
Prior to the game, the Kennesaw State Pep Band played the school’s new fight song for the first time. The song was debuted in front of the team that the Owls consider to be their biggest rival.
“The rivalry has grown an awful lot since I’ve been here, it’s amazing to see how much bigger of rivals we are now than we were when I was a redshirt freshman (in 2008-09),” Cummings said after the game. “Every year, it’s seemed to get a little bit bigger, and this was a great atmosphere to be a part of.”
Cummings and Love both scored 15 points in the contest, despite going 4-for-15 and 3-for-11 from the floor, respectively. Cummings was 7-for-8 from the free throw line while Love was 8-for-9. Cummings and Aaron Anderson both had seven rebounds to lead the Owls.
Mercer was led by Gollon's 17 points, one of four Bears to score in double figures.
The Owls play their fourth straight home game on Tuesday evening when they meet the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. Tip-off at the KSU Convocation Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
