KENNESAW STATE AT ILLINOIS
GAME 14 | DECEMBER 27 | BIG TEN NETWORK | 9 P.M. ET
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS | STATE FARM CENTER

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | AUDIO | TICKETS

TALKING POINTS
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team travels to Champaign, Illinois to take on the University of Illinois on Saturday, December 27 at 9 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
» Non-conference road wins haven't been easy for the Owls since they made the jump to Division I. The win at Youngstown State was their sixth non-conference road-win since making the jump. KSU has beaten Chattanooga twice, South Carolina State in 2012-13, Colgate in 2008-09 and Gardner Webb in 2007-08.

THE COMPETITION
ILLINOIS                                          
After concluding a stretch of six out of eight games away from home, Illinois returns to State Farm Center Saturday night, hosting Kennesaw State in the final game prior to Big Ten play. The Illini carry a 35-game home court winning streak against non-conference opponents, the nation's third-longest active streak. Illinois is led by Rayvonte Rice in points, rebounds, three pointers and minutes.
 
All-Time Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
 
Last time out
In a quick turnaround after playing on Saturday, the Kennesaw State men's basketball team lost a nail biter 67-65 that came down to final possession against Elon on Monday, December 22.
 
» NEWS AND NOTES
This Week in KSU Men's Basketball     
»    The Kennesaw State men's basketball team travels to Champaign, Illinois to take on the Univerity of Illinois on Saturday, December 27 at 9 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
»    Next Wednesday, the Owls will head north once again and take on Tennessee State on New Years Eve. Opening tip is at 7 p.m.

KSU as a Team                                                  
»    The win at Youngstown State was the team's sixth non-conference road win since making the jump to NCAA Division I. KSU has beaten Chattanooga twice, South Carolina State in 2012-13, Colgate in 2008-09 and Gardner Webb in 2007-08.         
»    The Owls are 4-2 when the team has the lead or was tied at halftime. The two losses have come against UMBC and Elon.
»    Defensively, the Owls have been tough to score on in the paint all season. Both Jordan Jones and Bernard Morena have stepped up in the last three games leading the Owls in blocks. KSU is 38th in the country and leads the A-Sun in blocks with 60 on the season averaging 4.6 per game.
»    KSU scored 90 points in the win at Youngstown State making 33 field goals shooting 53.2 percent from the field. The 90 points and 33 field goals are both season highs for the Owls.
»    The Owls currently lead the A-Sun in free throw percentage at .691. The team has shot at least 70 percent in six of the past eight games.
 
KSU Individually                                              
»    Nigel Pruitt set a new career high with 29 points at Youngstown State hitting six threes to tie a Kennesaw State record. At one point in the first half he scored 14 straight points for the Owls. In the next game against UMBC, Pruitt picked the Owls up on the offensive end again, scoring 11 straight points at one point in the first half. Earlier in the season, Pruitt earned 2K Classic All-Tournament Team honors after going off for 20 points against North Dakota State followed by 11 against Alcorn State.
»    Yonel Brown leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures for the Owls in 10 of the 13 games and has been the leading scorer in five of those.
»    With Brown making 86.8 percent of his free throws he leads the A-Sun in that category as well as in minutes played averaging 36.8 per contest. Brown also leads the team in scoring (13.4) and is tied for the lead with 40 assists.
» Orlando Coleman got it going on the offensive end against Elon, scoring a team-high 18 points. Coleman leads the Owls in rebounds averaging 6.3 per game and double-doubles with three on the season.

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.