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KENNESAW, Ga.  – After a long road trip, returning home to the KSU Convocation Center was the medicine the Kennesaw State men's basketball team needed as the Owls got a 68-60 win over North Carolina A&T snapping a four-game losing streak and securing head coach Al Skinner's 400^th career victory.
 
"It's an indication of longevity and that you've been in the business long enough with some good teams," Skinner said about winning his 400^th game as a head coach. "As I explained to these guys, I'm very appreciative of it, but when it's all said and done, I would like to do some things here that are going to create some records. I'm happy to get it at home and hopefully this will be a start for us with a few home games coming up."
 
Skinner has been a head coach for 24 seasons at Rhode Island, Boston College and Kennesaw State.
 
With the Owls back in the KSU Convocation Center, seniors Kendrick Ray and Aubrey Williams stepped up as Ray scored 34 of the team's 68 points and Williams secured his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Seven of his rebounds came on the offensive end.
 
"We're trying to reestablish ourselves," Skinner said after the win. "I thought on the road we were weary and didn't play with the energy we need to. Today, we did that and it was indicated in rebounds where we had 20 offensive rebounds. That's a tremendous effort on everyone's part."
 
The Owls got off to a slow start in the first half, but kept it close with hustle on the offensive boards. Led by Williams, he grabbed six of his seven offensive rebounds in the opening frame.
 
The Aggies took their largest lead up seven with 6:04 remaining in the half, but KSU didn't let it grow any more than that.
 
With time winding down to halftime, N.C. A&T hit a three, but Ray answered nailing a three at the buzzer to bring the score to 29-27 at the break and the Owls only trailed by two.
 
After hitting that shot at the end of the half, Ray came out in the second half looking to score. To start the second half, he scored 15 of the first 17 points scored for KSU and had 21 in the final 20 minutes.
 
The Owls took the lead for good on a Ray three pointer with 13:31 left in the game to go up 41-39.
 
Once they took the lead, they held it the rest of the way, but the Aggies didn't make it easy for KSU. With 4:04 remaining, Sam Hunt hit a three to bring A&T within two at 60-58.
 
With the Aggies playing tough defense on Ray, the Owls needed another player to step up and freshman Johannes Nielsen provided the boost off the bench. He scored eight of his 11 points in the final four minutes of the game helping the Owls secure the milestone victory for Coach Skinner.
 
Kennesaw State had a tough shooting night from the floor, but picked up the slack on the offensive glass. The team had 20 offensive boards that led to 16 second chance points.
 
After taking a break for the holidays, the Owls will be back on December 28 to take on the Mercer Bears at 7 p.m.

#NestNotes

• With the victory, head coach Al Skinner got his 400^th career victory. He has been a head coach for 24 seasons at Rhode Island, Boston College and Kennesaw State.
• Kendrick Ray scored 34 points against North Carolina A&T. The scoring was tough for Kennesaw State, so he picked up the slack when he needed too, pouring in half of the Owls points to make sure KSU got the victory. It is the fourth time this season he has scored over 30 and sixth time in his career. In the Gotham Classic alone, Ray averaged 27.25 points per game with two 30-point performances.
• The 34 points tonight has raised Ray's scoring average to 23.8 this season. That's the fourth best average in the NCAA. It also brings the senior closer to the 1,000 career-points mark. He came into today with 942, so is now sitting at 976 heading into the Mercer game.
• Aubrey Williams secured his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Seven of those 12 rebounds came on the offensive end.
• Johannes Nielsen scored nine of his 11 points in the second half giving him double-figure scoring for the fourth time in his career.

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