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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State men's basketball team held a lead as late as 3:25 in the second half, but couldn't hold off Atlantic Sun Conference leading Mercer, falling at home in the Convocation Center 75-68 in front of a season-high 3,624 fans on Friday night.
 
Two Myles Hamilton free throws with just under 3:30 to play put the Owls on top by two, 66-64, but Mercer (19-6, 10-2 A-Sun) closed out the game on an 11-2 run to take the second game of the two-game series from the Owls (4-21, 1-11 A-Sun).
 
"It was a tough one, but I'm proud of our guys' effort," said Kennesaw State interim head coach Jimmy Lallathin. "I think we saw a glimpse of what this team can be. There were just times where they made the plays and we didn't. We had some good looks and I'm proud of our fight. We looked like a basketball team as much as we have all season."

 
KSU brought down the lead to just one possession on nine occasions over the next 10 minutes, but couldn't crack the Bears' defense as the visitors then extended their lead to seven points on a pair of free throws at 60-53 with seven to play.
 
The Owls then took off, starting with a Bernard Morena layup to cut the lead down to five. Yonel Brown made it a three-point affair just 30 seconds later, hitting on a layup to set the score at 60-57. Mercer then put in two from the charity stripe, going back up by five, before Delbert Love put in two of his own to make it just a two-point game, 62-60, with 5:06 to go.
 
Love then tied up the game seconds later, putting in two more from the line to make it a 62-62 contest with 4:39 on the clock. Mercer regained a brief lead before Love tied it up once again with a jumper at 3:59, 64-64. Hamilton then went on to hit the two free throws to give the Owls the two-point lead before the Bears went on their run to win it by seven.
 
KSU started off the ballgame by putting in the first two points of the night with a Morena layup after the Willy Kouassi opening tip win. Mercer then went up by eight, a lead they held until the 7:03 mark of the first before the Owls started the run.
 
Coleman kicked things off with a jumper, followed by two points in the paint from Brown as the Owls cut the lead down to four, 24-20, with 4:54 to go. Tanner Wozniak sunk the long two followed by the and-one free throw, making it a one-point game. Love tied it up at 25 with 3:51 on the clock and again with just two seconds remaining on a pair of free throws, sending the game into the half at 29 each.
 
Brown led the KSU offense with his 12 points, one of three Owls to do so, along with Love and Coleman's 10, giving the three guards 36 combined points with six assists, four of those belonging to Brown.
 
On the glass it was Nigel Pruitt and Coleman tying for the team lead, each grabbing six rebounds as KSU held onto 36 total as a team, 27 on the defensive end alone.
 
KSU also picked up 31 points from its bench during the effort.
 
The Owls will break for nearly a week now, heading back to the hardwood this Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. ET as Northern Kentucky heads down to the KSU Convocation Center.

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.
   

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