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NEWARK, N.J.  – After facing a 21-point deficit in the first half, James Scott had a look to force overtime, but the shot hit off the iron as time expired ending Kennesaw State's comeback bid. The Owls ended up falling on the road to NJIT, 74-71.
 
Scott led the Owls comeback attempt with 22 points and 20 of those all coming in the second half.
 
Anthony Wilson had KSU's first double-double this season recording 10 points and 11 rebounds. He also contributed three assists and three steals.
 
Kennesaw State struggled on offense in the first half starting 3-15 from the floor. Once the Owls settled in, they started having more success on the offensive end despite facing a 21-point hole.
 
Once facing their biggest deficit of the game, KSU got going and outscored NJIT 18-7 over the final 7:40 of the first half to only trail by 10 at halftime.
 
The Owls carried the momentum they grabbed before the break into the second half to put pressure on the Highlanders.
 
Nick Masterson hit a jumper at the 12:57 mark in the second half to give the Owls their first lead of the game at 46-45.
 
In all, Kennesaw State's run was 36-14 to take their first lead, but NJIT wasn't going to roll over on their home floor.
 
With the two teams tied at 50, NJIT answered with a 12-2 run to get their lead back into double digits.
 
Trailing by double digits once again, the Owls had one more comeback in them. They chipped away at the lead over the final five minutes and got it down to as close as two points, but whenever they had a chance to tie they couldn't get the shot to fall.
 
Masterson was the third Owl in double figures with 16 points.
 
The loss dropped the Owls to 6-17 overall and 2-6 in the ASUN.
 
They will be heading home now for three games in a row in the KSU Convocation Center starting with USC Upstate on Saturday, February 3. The game will begin at 4:30 p.m.

#NestNotes

• The Owls were facing their second double-digit deficit in a row and nearly pulled of the biggest comeback of the season trailing by 21 at one point in the first half.
• Wilson had the Owls first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He also chipped with three assists and three steals.
• The loss to NJIT completes the sweep of the Owls. In the three seasons that the teams have played each other, NJIT has swept KSU two years and the Owls have swept the Highlanders one of those years.
• Scott got back on track tonight scoring 22 points with 20 of those coming in the second half in front of his family.

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