Wednesday, November 7
7:30 p.m. – Kennesaw State vs. Oglethorpe
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes

Top Storylines
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team kicks off the 2018-19 campaign at home Wednesday night, taking on Oglethorpe at 7:30 p.m.
» The Owls will have some big shoes to fill after losing over 60 percent of its scoring production from last year to graduation and transfer, including 2017-18 second-team all-conference honoree Nick Masterson.
» KSU returns three players that started in 15 games or more from last season, senior Kyle Clarke, red-shirt junior Tyler Hooker and junior Isaac Mbuyamba.  
» Hooker is the Owls top returning scorer, averaging 10.8 points per game while Mbuyamba led the squad with 26 blocks.
» KSU had a massive influx of new talent this year, welcoming four freshmen and four transfers, including Antonio Spencer who joined the team in January of 2018. 
» In the Owls' first test of the year, they recorded an 81-76 victory over Clayton State in exhibition play. KSU defeated the 20th-ranked Division II squad, closing out the game on a 9-1 run with Hooker draining a game-winning three-pointer with 23 seconds left. 
» Hooker led the team with 36 points while adding six rebounds and three steals.
» Freshmen C.J. Washington and Antonio Spencer had some stellar performances during the exhibition. Washington was second on the team with 17 points, shooting 71.4 percent from the field while Spencer recorded a team-high six blocks.

The Matchup
Wednesday's season-opener marks the first time since 1988 that KSU and Oglethorpe will square off on the hardwood. Former Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals, the Owls and Stormy Petrels have faced one another six times before with Oglethorpe holding a 4-2 series record, but KSU has won the last two meetings.

Oglethorpe is coming off a season in which it posted a 15-12 record on the way to a Southern Athletic Association conference tournament semifinal berth. Three Stormy Petrels earned all-conference honors, Will Perry (first-team), Tom Inungu (second-team) and Chris Lawrence (honorable mention).

Both Perry and Inungu return for Oglethorpe this season. Perry led the team last season averaging 19.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while Inungu logged a team-high 27 blocks.

Last Time Out
Kennesaw State defeated top Division II squad Clayton state in its exhibition last week. The Owls built a 12-point first half lead against the Lakers behind a 14-2 run that spanned nearly five minutes midway through the half. Clayton State responded with an 11-0 run to pull within one, eventually taking the lead, but a layup from Kosta Jankovic and a jumper from Tyler Hooker gave KSU a 32-29 lead at the half.

Both squads traded buckets and leads throughout most of the second half until a 6-0 run by Clayton State gave the Lakers a 66-61 lead at the 7:06 mark. Clayton State maintained a slim two-point lead with less than a minute to play until a last second three-pointer from Hooker put the Owls in front 77-76. The Lakers attempted a last-second miracle of their own, but a steal from the Owls followed by a dunk from Hooker sealed the match.

Hooker finished with a team-high 36 points, scoring 24 in the second half, to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Freshman C.J. Washington and senior Kosta Jankovic each finished in double-figures with 17 points and 13 points, respectively. As a team, the Owls recorded 11 total blocks, six from freshman Antonio Spencer and four from junior Isaac Mbuyamba.

Skinner Enters Fourth Season
Al Skinner enters his fourth season as head coach of Kennesaw State. Since joining KSU, Skinner has led the Owls to 25 wins over the past three seasons, tying the best three-year stretch since moving to Division I (25 wins from 2005-08).

Back in Black (and Gold)
Kennesaw State's seven returners will have some big shoes to fill after losing nearly half of last year's squad to graduation or transfer, including the Owls' top-2 scorers in James Scott and ASUN Second Team All-Conference honoree Nick Masterson.

Red-shirt junior Tyler Hooker is KSU's top returning scorer, averaging 10.8 points per game last year. He was also second on the team for assists (79) and steals (38). Kyle Clarke and Kosta Jankovic are the lone seniors on a young Owl squad. Clarke and Hooker are the only two returners to record over 100 points, 50 assists and 30 steals.

The Owls will rely heavily on junior Isaac Mbuyamba in the paint. Mbuyamba led the team last year with 26 blocks and was second with 131 total rebounds.

Fresh Faces
The Owls welcome a large crop of newcomers this season with the potential to vie for a starting role. In total, KSU will have eight new faces, four freshmen and four transfers, including Antonio Spencer who joined the team in January of this year, but did not see any action.

KSU gains some height at the forward position with three of the four newcomers standing at 6'9" or taller.

The Owls also gain a surge of much needed depth at the guard position with the addition of four guards, including transfer Bobby Parker who led Mineral Area CC averaging 14 points per game. Joining Parker is Danny Lewis, a three-star recruit who transferred from UCF after being red-shirted last season, and C.J. Washington who averaged 16.7 points per game during Tompkins High School's historic playoff run to its first Region III Class 6 Championship. 

Quick Hands
The Owls played havoc on defense last season, averaging 7.1 steals per game to rank third in the ASUN. Six Owls recorded 20 or more steals last season.

KSU returns nearly half of its production from last season, including Tyler Hooker and Kyle Clarke who combined for 73 steals, and ranked 12th and 13th in the league, respectively.

Not In His House
Junior Isaac Mbuyamba had a breakout sophomore campaign, appearing in all 30 games after seeing the court twice his freshman season. Mbuyamba ranked fifth in the ASUN last season with 26 blocks, averaging nearly one block per game.

The Portland, Ore., native was also ranked 20th in the league averaging 4.4 rebounds per game.

Protect The Nest
The Owls have done a good job of protecting their home court recording eight wins in each of the last three seasons. Before the 2015-16 campaign, KSU has only recorded eight home wins three times since joining Division I (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2009-10).

To Be The Best You Have To Play The Best
The Owls have a formidable non-conference schedule this season, featuring five matchups against Power-5 teams.

After the Owls' season-opener, they jump right into the deep end, traveling to face last year's elite eight squad of Kansas State. The following week KSU heads to the Virgin Islands to play in the Paradise Jam Tournament. KSU opens the tournament against SEC foe Missouri with the potential to face either Oregon State or Old Dominion in the second round.

KSU then returns to the states to take on perennial OVC powerhouse Belmont before squaring off against the likes of Georgia, Tennessee Tech and Georgia Tech before opening conference play.

Owls Picked To Finish Seventh In ASUN
The Kennesaw State men's basketball team was selected to finish seventh in both the preseason Coaches and media polls.

The Owls have qualified for the ASUN tournament four years in a row, finishing sixth or higher in each year. KSU's best finish in the conference came during the 2016-17 when the Owls went 7-7 in league play to tie USC Upstate for fourth.

KSU has recorded at least six wins in league play the last three seasons. The Owls 20 wins over that span marks the best three year stretch for KSU since its first three seasons in Division I from 2005-08 (26 wins).

Looking Ahead
Following Wednesday's season-opener, the Owls hit the road to face No. 12 Kansas State Friday at 8 p.m. EST.

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video