Score: Kennesaw State 102, Lipscomb 86
Records: Kennesaw State (5-12, 1-0), LIpscomb (4-14, 0-1)
Key Players: Nick Masterson (24 points shooting 10-14 from the field), Yonel Brown (21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Kendrick Ray (16 points going 6-6 from the floor)
 
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State men's basketball team won its Atlantic Sun Conference opener against the Lipscomb Bisons 102-86 behind a complete team effort on Saturday, January 9 in the KSU Convocation Center.
 
It is the first conference opener the Owls have won since the 2008-09 season when KSU topped USC Upstate.
 
With second leading scorer Kendrick Ray in foul trouble for much of the game, sophomore Nick Masterson stepped up shooting 10-14 from the field to set a new career high with 24 points to lead the team.
 
Early in the game, Kennesaw State made nine straight field goals from the field, while they held the Bisons to just 3-12 to start the game to race out to a 21-7 lead out of the gate. Once KSU took the double-digit lead, Lipscomb couldn't get any closer than nine points the rest of the way because of the efficient Owls offense. For the game, KSU shot 57.1 percent and held Lipscomb to just 36.4 percent.

In the second half, Lipscomb went 20-29 from the free throw line, but Kennesaw State still outpaced the Bisons 63-58 to clinch the win.
 
Senior Yonel Brown was second in scoring with 21 points. There were five scorers in double-figures, which marks the second game in a row that Kennesaw State has done that.
 
After the big A-Sun win, the Owls will hit the road next week to Jacksonville to take on the Dolphins on Thursday, January 14 followed by the 2014-15 A-Sun Champions, the North Florida Ospreys on Saturday, January 16.
 
 Coach Skinner on the Atlantic Sun Win against Lipscomb
"Obviously, it was very important to win the game at home. It's important that we establish something as far as the way we would like to play. I think for a good portion of the game, we were able to do that. It was a good win for us and it's something we can build on. I know our non-league schedule was a very strong one, but we've also benefitted from it. Our guys competed at a high level, but we just weren't able to sustain it. We're getting close to playing for 40 minutes, and that'll be really important. There were a lot of contributions today. I know we had more assists than turnovers. This is probably the most turnovers we've had in a while, but we had balanced scoring. We had five guys in double figures, and that means we're sharing the ball. Guys are trying to help each other to execute the offense. That's extremely important for us. Considering that Kendrick played such limited minutes for us, for other guys to step up it indicates that we're playing within ourselves, sharing the ball, executing, guys are getting good shots and if guys are getting good shots they'll put it in the basket."
 - Kennesaw State Head Coach Al Skinner

Notes
- As mentioned in the story above, this is the first A-Sun Conference opener that the Owls have won since the 2008-09 season when the team beat USC Upstate 66-64.
- This is the second game in a row that Kennesaw State has scored over 100 points. It is the first time that the team has scored over 100 points two games in a row since the 1991-92 season when the Owls did it twice that season.
- It's the second game in a row that KSU has had five scorers in double-figures. Masterson led the team with 24, followed by Brown with 21, Ray with 16, Kyle Clarke with 14 and Nigel Pruitt with 12.
- Led by Clarke and Pruitt, KSU outscored Lipscomb's bench 33-13.
- Kennesaw State scored 63 points in the second half. That is the most the team has scored in a half all season.
- The win against Lipscomb snaps a ten game losing streak to the Bisons.
  
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.