Score: Kennesaw State 74, Florida Gulf Coast 79
Records: Kennesaw State (5-15, 1-3), Florida Gulf Coast (12-8, 3-1)
Key Players: Kendrick Ray (31 points on 12 of 17 shooting), Yonel Brown (20 points and four assists)
 
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kendrick Ray and Yonel Brown combined for 51 points, but Kennesaw State fell to FGCU 79-74 on Thursday, January 21 at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
Ray led all scorers with 31 points on 12-17 shooting. Brown chipped in for his seventh 20-point game of the year.
 
With just under 30 seconds in the game and the Owls trailing by six, Brown drove to the basket and was called for an offensive foul ending the Owls late comeback attempt.
 
In the first half, the teams were trading runs to take the lead back and forth until the Eagles went on a 9-2 spurt over a four-minute span to go up 30-21. KSU cut the lead to six, but out of an FGCU timeout the Eagles went back up 11 and eventually took a 10-point lead into the break.
 
The Owls got off to a slow start in the second half trailing 50-46, but a Nick Masterson three capped an 8-0 run to bring the Owls back within six.
 
Later in the half, Ray stepped up for the Owls scoring nine straight points to bring KSU within four with 8:58 remaining. FGCU didn't let Kennesaw State get any closer than that though scoring five quick points to go back up nine.
 
Kennesaw State made another late comeback attempt, but ultimately came up short in the end.
 
Kennesaw State will be back in the Convocation Center this Saturday, January 23 at 4:30 p.m. to take on Stetson. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

 Coach Skinner on Kendrick Ray's Play
"In the first half, they lost him and he was open a number of times and he can shoot the ball. He's benefitting from a lot of people are concentrating on YB and because of the movement we have on offense, he's been open and guys have been able to find him. Our assists were good and that's what has to happen. The ball has to move. If we're going to win, we have to have this kind of effort offensively. For him personally, late in the game, he recognized they were in the penalty. Because of the offense that we run, they can't just concentrate on one guy. The ball is moving and bodies are moving and other guys had opportunities and he was able to take advantage of it."
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Al Skinner
 
 Notes
- Kendrick Ray and Yonel Brown combined to score 51 points tonight against FGCU as Ray had 31 and Brown had 20.
- The 31 points was a career high for Ray and it is the second time this season he has eclipsed the 30-point mark.
- The Owls outscored FGCU 42-37 in the second half.
- Kennesaw State finished with the game only committing eight turnovers. That is the lowest amount of turnovers the team has had this 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.