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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Led by James Scott and Nick Masterson, the Kennesaw State men's basketball team beat the FGCU Eagles in Alico Arena on Thursday, February 15 to snap a 15-game losing streak to FGCU.
 
Scott and Masterson both scored 27 in the game in the big road victory. The last time the Owls beat the Eagles was in February of 2011.
 
Kennesaw State led by nine points with 2:05 remaining, and FGCU was looking to have another big comeback this season. They cut the lead to one with 40 seconds remaining.
 
After Tyler Hooker went 3-4 from the free throw line and the Owls leading by two, FGCU hit a layup to tie the score at 92 with 20 seconds remaining. The Owls quickly got the ball in the front court and Kyle Clarke laid the ball in to give the Owls the lead back five seconds later.
 
FGCU had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line with seven seconds remaining, but went 1-2 from the line and the Owls ran the clock out from there.
 
This is the fourth win in a row for Kennesaw State making them 4-0 in the month of February. They also move to 6-6 in the ASUN and currently sit in a tie for third.
 
Coming into the game, FGCU was a perfect 11-0 in ASUN play and has already clinched the ASUN Regular Season Championship.
 
FGCU began the game very quickly getting out to an 11-3 lead.
 
Senior Jordan Jones stepped up hitting three shots with the last one being an emphatic dunk on a fast break to bring the Owls to within one possession trailing 14-11.
 
Shortly after that, Scott took over the game pouring in 10 straight points to give the Owls their first lead of the game up 21-18.
 
Once Scott got going, the Owls offense took off as him and Masterson both hit threes out of the under eight media timeout to go up 32-22.
 
Holding that 10-point lead the rest of the half, FGCU picked up some momentum late in the first half going on an 8-0 run. Jones broke the run with a layup right before the break for KSU to lead 43-39 at halftime.
 
Scott scored 18 of his 27 points in the first half.
 
In the second half, FGCU cut the Owls lead down to one early, but before the under 12 media timeout Kennesaw State had its biggest lead of the game up 15.
 
The Eagles responded after trailing by 15, going on a 12-0 run bringing the score back to 63-60 forcing KSU to use a timeout.
 
The Owls didn't panic though getting their lead back up to eight after big shots from Masterson and Bryson Lockley.
 
From there, FGCU really didn't threaten the Owls until the final two minutes. With the crowd roaring, KSU hung tough holding off the ASUN Champions.
 
Masterson scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half.
 
Jones and Hooker both scored in double figures as well.
 
Now, KSU will turn its attention to the Stetson Hatters on Saturday, February 17. The game begins at 4 p.m. There are two games remaining in the regular season.

#NestNotes

• The win tonight snaps a 15 game losing against FGCU. The last win against the Eagles came on Feb. 10, 2011
• The Owls have now won four in a row and are 4-0 in February. Since Skinner has coached Kennesaw State, KSU is 13-5 in the month of February.
• Kennesaw State held a 43-39 lead at the break against FGCU at Alico Arena.That's the first lead they've held against the Eagles at halftime since the 2015-16 season when the Owls led 29-26 at the break.
• Scott was sensational the game scoring 27 with 18 coming in the first half. That is the second game in a row that the Owls have had a player scored 18 points in the first half. Masterson was the player last Saturday against Jacksonville.
• Scott and Masterson both scored 20-plus points for the third time this season. They combined to score 54 points in the game. That is the second most they have scored in a game this season.
• Kennesaw State outrebounded FGCU 36-30. Anthony Wilson led the Owls with eight on the night.

 

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