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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State basketball team lost its first game at home in the 2014-15 season against the Kent State Golden Flashes 58-46.
 
The Owls had two players reach double figures in scoring as Delbert Love and Bernard Morena each had ten points.
 
Willy Kouassi led the team in rebounds with seven as well as having two blocks.
 
"We showed great toughness early," head coach Jimmy Lallathin said. "Now, it's about maintaining that. That's part of the maturation that I've got to continue working on for our guys and putting our guys in those situations. That's something I've got to teach and continue to hold those expectations. The guys have been doing a great job in responding. Early in the second, they got us down and we responded. That's a tribute to them. Their fighting, and I've got to continue to practice at that pace, hold them accountable on making tough basketball plays. We made some today, but didn't make enough."
 
The Golden Flashes built an early eight-point lead at 12-5, when Love hit back-to-back threes bringing KSU to within four. Then, Nick Masterson joined the party as he made his first three of the contest cutting Kent State's lead to one.
 
A couple of possessions later, Morena scored his first points of the game with a layup putting the Owls up by one.
 
Morena kept it going swishing his first three of the season to give Kennesaw State a two-point lead, which ended up being the largest lead of the game for the Owls.
 
Coming out of the locker room down four, Kennesaw State kept it within five through the first six minutes of the second half by making four straight free throws and a triple by Nigel Pruitt.
 
After Kent State went up by nine, the Owls bounced back one more time with another Masterson three and jumper by Orlando Coleman to cut the deficit to six, but the Golden Flashes wouldn't let them get any closer than that.
 
From there, Kent State raised their defensive intensity and grabbed its biggest lead of the game after a 5-0 run put them up 11 at 52-41. They held on to that lead going on to win 58-46.
 
The Owls continued their strong free throw shooting going 9-12 from the line.
 
Kennesaw State has a quick turn-around as they will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana to play Butler on Monday night at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

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.