Score: Kennesaw State 103, Reinhardt 71
Records: Kennesaw State (4-12), Reinhardt (8-7)
Key Players: Bernard Morena (24 points, 9 rebounds); Kendrick Ray (18 points); Yonel Brown (18 points); Nick Masterson (17 points); Aubrey Williams (11 points 12 rebounds)

Box Score (XML) | Box Score (PDF) 

KENNESAW, Ga. – Balanced scoring and a strong second half propelled the Kennesaw State men's basketball team over visiting Reinhardt University, 103-71, at the KSU Convocation Center on Monday (Jan. 4) afternoon in its final non-conference tilt of the 2015-16 season.
 
The Owls (4-12) totaled five players in double-figure scoring as Bernard Morena and Nick Masterson each recorded career highs with 24 and 17 points, respectively. Senior guard Yonel Brown and redshirt junior Kendrick Ray poured in 18 points each and Aubrey Williams totaled 11 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double off the bench.
 
Kennesaw State shot 54 percent from the field throughout the opening 20 minutes of action, but Reinhardt countered with 50 percent shooting of its own as the two teams battled in a back and forth first half that saw 10 lead changes and eight ties.
 
Deadlocked at 38-38 with 2:04 remaining in the first half, the Owls' defense clamped down and forced four Eagle turnovers to spark a key 8-0 run to give KSU the lead at 44-38. Brown scored four of his 10 first half points during the span with a layup and a pair of free throws to help Kennesaw State head into the locker room with the advantage.
 
That run sparkplugged a 59-33 rout in the second half by KSU behind 68 percent shooting from the field and 4-of-8 (50 percent) from beyond the arc. Morena tallied 20 points in the second half behind a blistering 9-of-10 shooting from the floor over the final 20 minutes to lift the Owls.
 
On the other end, the Eagles struggled from the floor, shooting 39 percent from the floor and just 3-of-13 (23 percent) from beyond the arc in the second half. The Owls' defense forced seven turnovers and outrebounded Reinhardt by a dominate 24-7 total to help their fourth victory of the season.

The game today against Reinhardt was the final tune up before A-Sun Conference play for Kennesaw State. The Owls host Lipscomb this Saturday at 4:30.
 
Coach Skinner on Overcoming a Slow Start
"The most important thing is we weren't playing with the type of effort that we needed. They were doing a lot of switching in their man-to-man and we weren't doing a good job of running our offense. Since we were so passive, it made their defense that much more aggressive. On top of that, we did not defend very well and it was a combination that I'll credit more to effort than anything else. Execution wasn't where we needed it to be, but we weren't playing as hard. Second half, we played harder and was more aggressive and we got the results that we did."
- Kennesaw State Head Coach Al Skinner

Notes
- The Owls improved to 5-0 all-time against Reinhardt University.
- Today's contest marked the second time the two teams played each other since Kennesaw State joined the Division-I ranks, with the first meeting coming in 2011 in a 72-46 Kennesaw State victory.
- The game against Reinhardt marked the second time in the regular season Kennesaw State played an NAIA opponent this season, winning both of those contests.
- Five Owls scored in double-figures, marking the first time that has happened this season.  
- Bernard Morena totaled a new career high with 24 points against Reinhardt, scoring 20 points in the second half to help propel the Owls past the Eagles.
- Nick Masterson hit 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, marking a single-game high for the 2015-16 season for the guard.
- Masterson's 17 points marked a career high for the 6-5 sophomore from Woodstock, Georgia.
- Kennesaw State had 10 turnovers in the game; marking the 11th time in 12 games the Owls have had less than 15 turnovers in a game. They also had 20 assists in the game.
- The Owls scored over 100 points for the first time since joining the D-I ranks, with the last time coming in the 2004-05 season in a 103-61 victory over UNC Pembroke on Feb. 19, 2005.
  
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.