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FORT MYERS, Fla.  – After defeating Stetson on Thursday night, the Owls were looking for a weekend sweep on the road, but came up short at FGCU as the Eagles topped Kennesaw State 75-63 in front of a sold out crowd at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.
 
Kendrick Ray was back after missing the Stetson game with an injury and led the team with 19 points. Two other Owls finished in double figures as Aubrey Williams had 16 and Tyler Hooker had 11.
 
To start the game, the Owls couldn't get a basket to fall allowing FGCU to jump out to a 9-0 lead. Williams finally got a bucket for the Owls and that got Kennesaw State going.
 
The Owls clawed their way back in the game and took their first lead up 21-20 after a Hooker layup.
 
Later in the half with the teams going back and forth, Hooker hit a pair free throws with 1:17 remaining bringing KSU within two, but the Eagles close the half on a 5-0 run to lead 36-29 at the break.
 
It was good to have Ray back as he was 5-7 for the first 20 minutes and made 5 of the 11 field goals for the Owls in the first half.
 
At the start of the second half, Kennesaw State came out hot going on an 8-0 run and took the lead back. Gulf Coast didn't let it last for long though, as they responded to go on a 13-2 run forcing KSU to use a timeout trailing 10.
 
Trailing by double-digits, Kennesaw State found its rhythm on the offensive end, but couldn't get enough stops to threaten the Eagles down the stretch.
 
Williams had his 16^th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Owls have three games remaining in the regular season and all three of them are at home in the KSU Convocation Center starting Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m. against Jacksonville.
 

#NestNotes

• With the split on the road, Kennesaw State earned a split on every conference road trip this season.
• The Owls have three games remaining at home to finish out the regular season. They are the only team in the conference to have three straight home games to finish the regular season.
• Williams grabbed his 16^th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
• Ray once again led the team with 19 points in the game. He has led the team in 16 games this season.
• With the loss to FGCU, they have beaten the Owls 13 straight games.

 

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