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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Kennesaw State men’s basketball team was unable to take advantage of a 28-point effort by senior forward
Markeith Cummings (Birmingham, Ala. / Beach HS) and a 12-point halftime lead as it fell 79-67 to USC Upstate in an Atlantic Sun Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Hodge Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
The 28 points by Cummings gave him 2,000 for his career as he became the sixth player in A-Sun Conference history to reach the milestone. The KSU senior established the feat in 117 career games after 9-for-18 from the field and 8-for-9 from the foul line. Cummings is averaging 17.1 points for his career.
After leading 39-27 at the break, the Owls (3-23, 2-12) were outscored 52-28 in the second half as the Spartans (14-14, 8-7) shot a sizzling 72.7 percent (16-for-22) from the field and held a 22-9 advantage on the boards over the final 20 minutes.
USC Upstate was led by A-Sun scoring leader Torrey Craig, who recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Forward Ricardo Glenn contributed 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while Ty Greene and Adrian Rodgers added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Craig and Glenn went a combined 15-for-21 from the field, including 10-for-12 in the second half, and scored 29 of their combined 45 points in the second half.
Kennesaw State began the game well as it led the entire first half on the strength of 45.2 percent (14-for-31) shooting from the field and 16 points from Cummings.
However, the Spartans opened the second half with a 22-8 run over the first eight and half minutes and took their first lead of the game at 49-47 following a basket by Craig with 12:32 to play. USC Upstate never surrendered the lead the remainder of the game.
Freshman
Nigel Pruitt (Potomac, Md. / Bullis School) scored 10 points to for his third straight double-digit scoring game.
Kennesaw State returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 21) when it hosts Northern Kentucky at the KSU Convocation Center beginning at 7 p.m.
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
