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KENNESAW, Ga. – Redshirt-junior Tyler Hooker exploded for 36 points, including a game-winning three-pointer, to propel the Kennesaw State men's basketball team to an 81-78 victory over a formidable Clayton State squad in exhibition play Thursday night.
 
How it happened: The Lakers drew first blood, pulling ahead 5-1, but KSU found its way in front with a 6-0 run capped off by back-to-back jumpers from Hooker. The Owls built their lead to as high as 12 points, 26-14, thanks to a 14-2 run that spanned nearly five minutes midway through the first half.
 
Clayton State answered with an 11-0 run to pull within one, 26-25, eventually re-taking the lead following two free throws from the Lakers' Arusha Hunter, 29-28. A layup from senior Kosta Jankovic followed by a jumper from Hooker in the final seconds sent KSU into the locker room up 32-29.
 
The Owls and Lakers traded buckets throughout the early goings of the second half, with a three-pointer from Hooker and a layup from junior transfer Bobby Parker giving KSU a 46-42 lead. Clayton State pulled back in front, 49-46, with five straight points from Aubrey McRae to open a 7-0 run.
 
The two teams proceeded to trade the lead until a 6-0 run gave the Lakers their largest lead of the half, 66-61, at the 7:06 mark. Clayton State remained in front, answering every bucket from the Owls eventually building another five-point lead after a three-pointer from McRae made it 77-72 with under three minutes to play.
 
Back-to-back layups from Jankovic and freshman C.J. Washington pulled KSU within one, 77-76 at the 1:47 mark. With less than a minute to play, Clayton State's McRae went to the free throw line to extend the Lakers lead, but went 1-of-2. With time running out, Washington found Hooker at the top of the key to nail a last-chance three-pointer and put KSU ahead 79-78.
 
The Lakers attempted to pull off a last-second miracle of their own with 15 seconds left, but the Owl defense held firm forcing a turnover that Isaac Mbuyamba would secure to find Hooker streaking down the court for a game-clinching dunk.
 
Notes: Tyler Hooker recorded 24 of his 36 total points in the second half. He also added six rebounds, three steals and two assists … freshman C.J. Washington went 5-of-7 from the floor finishing the game with 17 points and a team-high three assists … Kosta Jankovic was the third Owl in double-figures on the night, recording 13 points … As a team, the Owls recorded 11 total blocks with freshman Antonio Spencer logging a team-high six and Isaac Mbuyamba adding another four … KSU made the most of their chances from the free throw line going 30-of-41 on the night … The Owls finished the game shooting 48 percent from the floor.
 
Quotes: Assistant Coach Carlton Owens
On the late-winner…
"Down the stretch, the last two minutes, we kept our composure, we didn't panic kept running our offense and that helped us prepare to get the win, but it was nerve-wracking. You have to understand, they are going to play their heart out. This is like their super bowl game, Division II team playing against a Division I school. And they were talented, they have some really talented kids, [JaCarl] Owens was really effective and they had some good shooters around him. They played free, they had no fear. The pressure was on us and for our kids to step up under pressure, that's a good sign."
 
On Tyler Hooker's play…
"He was on fire. He just played really aggressive and he took shots he could make. That's the key, you can't just jack up shots just to get some points. We stressed that in practice, take shots you can make and good things will happen. That was big for us and he'll probably be our leading scorer every game. I was impressed with C.J. [Washington] as well, he stepped up big time. Everybody contributed. Antonio [Spencer] was playing volleyball so that was great, and Isaac [Mbuyamba] had four blocks as well."
 
On what this game means for the season…
"This is a learning tool for us. We are going to take a lot out of this game. Coach made a lot of points in the locker room… you've got to teach them then while it just happened, and it's fresh in your mind. It's going to be a learning tool for them. The film will be great, especially for the younger kids, even the older kids too they made some mistakes, and we are just going to get better and better hopefully."
 
Up next: The Owls officially begin the 2018-19 season next Wednesday as they host Oglethorpe for their season-opener at 7 p.m.