BOX SCORE (PDF) | BOX SCORE (XML) | HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY

KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State secured a huge win on their home floor downing North Florida 89-81 on Thursday, February 8.
 
The lead changed three times in the final 2:33 of the game, but the Owls home crowd helped KSU take the lead for good with 1:40 remaining and the Owls got stops and made their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
The Owls went on a 12-2 run over the final stretch and held UNF without a field goal for over two minutes. 
 
Nick Masterson was big in one of his final regular season games in the KSU Convocation Center leading the team with 28 points going 6-6 on three pointers. He came into the game 14 points away from getting 1,000 career points and he came out looking to score. He hit his fourth three pointer of the half at the 7:31 mark in in the first half to reach the milestone.
 
In all, five players scored in double figures for the Owls.
 
The Owls got off to a slow start in the game missing their first five shots, which allowed North Florida to go up 8-0 early.
 
Masterson's hot shooting brought Kennesaw State back though leading them on a 17-2 run to go up 17-10.
 
KSU held the lead most of the first half until the Ospreys surged ahead by six with 1:50 remaining in the half.
 
Kennesaw State bounced back once again ending the half on an 8-0 to take a 42-40 lead into the break.
 
It was Top Flight Owls Night, so at halftime, Kennesaw State recognized 285 student athletes who achieved Top Flight Owl status by earning a 3.0 grade point average during spring or fall 2017. The overall grade point average for the all of the Owls student athletes this past fall was a 3.06, with over 62% of our Owls earning a 3.0 or higher. Additionally, last fall these student-athletes accounted for 38 Presidential Scholars, 81 students on the Deans list, with 28 student-athletes graduating in Fall 2017.
 
North Florida took the lead early in the second half and held it throughout the final stanza until the Owls made that 12-2 run to get the lead back.
 
Tyler Hooker finished the game with 14 points and five of those came in the final 2:33. Two of his layups gave the Owls the lead as the game went back and forth.
 
In the final minute of the game, KSU went 9-10 from the free throw line.
 
The win moves Kennesaw State to 8-17 on the season and 4-6 in the ASUN.
 
Now, the Owls will turn their attention to Jacksonville on Saturday, February 10 as Kennesaw State will honor Arthur Gray, Jordan Jones and Nick Masterson before the game for Senior Day.
 
Tip off will be at 4:30 and will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

#NestNotes

• This is the third year in a row that Kennesaw State has beaten North Florida at home in the KSU Convocation Center. Before head coach Al Skinner came the KSU, the Owls had lost 13 straight games to the Ospreys.
• The last three wins for the Owls have all been second-half comebacks. Against UNF, Kennesaw State trailed by six with 5:49 remaining in the game before going on a 12-2 run to surge into the lead for good.
• Masterson led all scorers with 28 points in the game. Coming into the night, he was sitting 14 points away from 1,000 career points, Masterson came out of the gate looking to score and he kept the Owls in it early. He scored the 14 points he needed in the first half going 5-11 from the floor and hit all four of his attempts from behind the three-point line. He finished the game hitting all six of his three-point attempts.
• The Owls bench outscored North Florida 35-18 in the game proving to be a huge key. The guys coming off the bench had three players in double figures led by Hooker with 14 and Anthony Wilson and Bryson Lockley with 10 each.
• In all, there were five Owls in double figures on the night. Along with Masterson and the three guys coming off the bench, James Scott scored 17 points.
• Kennesaw State outrebounded UNF 45-34 in the game.

To get the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.