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ATLANTA, Ga. – Three Owls finished in double-figures, but it was not enough to slow down a hot start from Georgia Tech as the Kennesaw State men's basketball team fell to the Yellow Jackets, 87-57, Friday afternoon.
 
How it happened: Georgia Tech (7-5) started off hot, sinking three straight three-pointers while going 8-of-9 from the floor to take a 19-3 lead at the 12:13 mark. Tyler Hooker finally broke the drought for KSU (3-11) with a three-pointer, scoring the next eight straight points to pull the Owls back within 10, 19-11, with just under 10 minutes to play.
 
The two teams proceeded to trade buckets until an 11-0 run for the Yellow Jackets gave Georgia Tech a 38-17 lead at the 3:36 mark. The Yellow Jackets closed out the first half with a three-pointer, their fifth of the first period compared to one for KSU, to lead 49-23.
 
Hooker recorded 10 of the Owls' 23 points in the first half as KSU shot 32.1 percent from the floor compared 60 percent for Georgia Tech.
 
The opening minutes of the second half was a back-and-forth battle as KSU played Georgia Tech much closer. A quick 6-0 run gave Georgia Tech its largest lead of the night, 68-32, before the Owls answered with a 7-0 run of its own to cut into the lead.
 
Danny Lewis and Bobby Parker both heated up in the second half, recording 10 points each and recording four of KSU's five three-pointers in the second period. The Owls had a much more efficient second half, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor, but the Yellow Jackets matched KSU shot-for-shot to maintain their double-digit lead.
 
Notes: Tyler Hooker maintained his double-digit streak, leading all scorers with 17 points … Danny Lewis recorded his third straight game in double-figures, scoring all 10 points in the second half … Bobby Parker's 14 points marks the third time this season he has finished with 10 or more points … Despite the cold start, the Owls finished the game shooting 41.2 percent, their fifth straight game shooting better than 40 percent … Hooker made all three of his free throws against Georgia Tech, missing only four over the last nine games … Lewis finished with career-highs in assists (6) and rebounds (4) … KSU was out-rebounded 33-20, a season-low for total rebounds … Georgia Tech outscored KSU 50-14 in the paint.
 
Quotes: Head Coach Al Skinner
On Georgia Tech's early shooting success…
"I'm not surprised. They're very capable. That's clearly the difference in the ballgame. They started off the game shooting the ball extremely well. Give them credit for their good execution and getting the shots that they wanted. We didn't make them feel uncomfortable. They got comfortable and shot the ball well. That's the difference in the ballgame. We put ourselves in a hole and it's hard to catch up."
 
On first half offensive struggles beyond Tyler Hooker…
"Our execution to start the game… we actually got some of the shots that we wanted we just didn't put the ball in the basket. Sometimes [with] a young team on the road those are the things that happen. Like I told guys in the locker room, we've got to get ourselves a little better prepared to play. We cannot continue to put ourselves in a hole as we did today. Again, our defense wasn't as good as it needed to be but you give credit to your opponent for shooting the ball extremely well. They executed well, and they got some open looks and put them in the basket. It's just that simple."
 
On Georgia Tech's defensive switches…
"I think they played good defense [and] that got them out in transition a number of times and that contributed to their shooting percentage. Those things happen. We did not shoot the ball well [and] it got them in transition, but they also started off the game making some threes. And they had not consistently shot the ball well in the past. This afternoon they shot the ball extremely well."
 
On defending Georgia Tech beyond the arc…
"We did not do a good job of recognizing guys on the perimeter. Some of that is due to our inexperience. We are a fairly young basketball team. But even though they were open they've still got to put the ball in the open. In previous games, they've had some similar looks and didn't necessarily score the ball. They felt comfortable today and they executed well. They did what they had to do, and they dominated the ballgame in a lot of different areas. You give them credit for playing as well as they did."
 
Up Next: The Owls will close out non-conference play on the road, taking on Yale Wednesday (Jan. 2) at 2 p.m.