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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  – Kennesaw State men's basketball kicked off their season at Butler in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday, November 10.
 
James Scott scored 26 to lead the Owls, but KSU came up short in Indianapolis, Indiana losing to Butler 82-64.
 
Butler built up a big early lead riding the energy from a packed Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
The Owls went to their bench and Tyler Hooker and Tristan Jarrett provided a spark. Jarrett scored eight points in 12 minutes in the first half, but Kennesaw State still trailed by 24 at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Owls offense opened up and Scott really got going. He led the team on a 23-9 run early in the second half to pull KSU within 10 points with 12 minutes left in the game.
 
Butler cracked down on defense though and didn't allow KSU to get any closer than that the rest of the way.
 
Scott scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half leading the Owls to outscore the Bulldogs 40-34 in the final 20 minutes.
 
Kennesaw State will stay on the road and head to Hofstra to play Monday, November 13 at 7 p.m. in Hempstead, New York.

#NestNotes

• Kennesaw State outscored the Butler Bulldogs 40-34 in the final 20 minutes. Scott heated up in the second half and helped lead the Owls on a 23-9 run to cut the lead down to 10 with 12 minutes left in the game.
• Scott scored 26 points in the first game of 2016-17. After scoring the first four points in the game for Kennesaw State, he was held scoreless the rest of the first half. In the final 20 minutes, he heated up scoring 22 points.
• Jarrett was an offensive spark off the bench. He led the team with eight points in the first half in 12 minutes. He finished with 15 points.
• Sophomore Bryson Lockley got his first career start in an Owls uniform.

 
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.