BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | INTERVIEW

KENNESAW, Ga. – It was a heartbreaking loss for the Kennesaw State men's basketball team at home on Thursday night as the Owls fell to Stetson 68-65 in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
 
A Myles Hamilton three-point attempt to tie up the game at 68 with just four seconds left on the clock fell just short, ending the game in favor of the Hatters as the Owls move to 4-17 on the year and 1-7 in the league standings.
 
"Tale of two halves," said Kennesaw State interim head coach Jimmy Lallathin. "We didn't play very well in the first half and didn't guard anybody. We just kept playing ping pong, going back and forth, and didn't make any progress. And when we defended well in the second half, we saw what we could do. We're shooting the ball at an incredible clip, our defensive positioning just needs to be tougher and that's the one aspect of this team that's keeping us from winning and winning multiple games."
 
KSU battled back from a six-point deficit with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, cutting it to just one point over a 90 second stretch with a layup and a three from Yonel Brown. Stetson (6-14, 4-4 A-Sun) bumped its lead back up to five at 64-59 on back-to-back field goals with 2:31 left, but the Owls weren't done. The hot-handed Brown hit on another jumper followed by an Orlando Coleman steal and a dunk on the other end, making it a one-point differential at 64-63 with 1:06 to go.
 
After a pair of Hatter free throws, the Owls put in the quick two points from Nate Rucker, bringing it back down to a one-point game with 16 seconds on the clock. Two more SU freebies then made it 68-65 Hatters with 15 seconds to go with the Hamilton game tying shot falling just inches short.
 
The big second half run from KSU came after SU took a 10-point lead into the half, 36-26, but the Owls came out punching, going on an 8-0 run to start the final period with a Delbert Love three-pointer putting the Owls within one at 38-37. Stetson then held onto the lead, never larger than five points, before KSU managed to make its push in the final five minutes of action.
 
Unlike the second half which saw the Owls surge in scoring, the first half started off in favor of the Hatters as Stetson jumped out to its largest lead of the game at 12 points with 12:26 to go. KSU managed to put together a 9-2 run, bringing it down to just three points at 23-20 with 8:38 to play, after four huge points coming from Love and a pair of free throws from Jordan Montgomery.
 
But it was Stetson that went into the break with the momentum, holding the 10-point lead after scoring the final basket of the opening half.
 
Sophomore center Willy Kouassi put together one of his most impressive games to date, coming away with a career high four blocks to go with his seven points and team leading six rebounds.
 
On the scoring side of things, Coleman and Love each chipped in with 13 points, Love also dishing out four assists, putting the junior just 17 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.
 
While outscoring the Hatters in the second half, 39-32, the Owls also shot an impressive 52 percent from the field, 64 percent in the second half alone, with seven three-pointers, three of those coming from Coleman.
 
KSU will remain at home as the Owls take on 2012-13 Sweet 16 team Florida Gulf Coast at noon ET this Saturday. The game will also serve as Sci-Fi day and feature a performance from Norman the Scooter Riding Dog at halftime.

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
Season tickets are currently available for all the home court action for the Owls and can be purchased by following the link here.
   
 
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video