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FLORENCE, Ala. – Led by a career performance from Tyler Hooker, the Kennesaw State men's basketball team mounted a big second half comeback at North Alabama, but fell just short of the victory as the Lions held off the late surge to defeat the Owls 76-71.
 
Hooker netted a career-high 33 points against UNA, scoring 21 in the second half, while going 13-of-14 at the free throw line to tie his career-high.
 
How it happened: The Owls (3-18, 0-6) and Lions (8-14, 5-2) both opened the game with 5-0 runs to remain tied at the first media timeout. UNA then proceeded to go on a 10-2 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Jamari Blackmon, to take a 15-7 advantage with 12:57 to play.
 
The two teams traded buckets throughout the half as KSU attempted to keep the UNA lead within single-digits. UNA eventually closed out the half on a 10-1 run, sinking a three-pointer with seven seconds left to lead 42-27 at halftime.
 
Hooker started to come alive as the game went on, going on two separate six point runs for the Owls, including six of KSU's final seven points of the half, to finish the period with a team-high 12 points.
 
The Owls did a great job on the boards in the first half out-rebounding UNA 11-5 offensively, but couldn't take advantage with only four second chance points. KSU shot 27.8 percent in the first half compared to 46.9 percent for UNA, including 6-of-8 from three-point range.
 
After opening the second half with yet another three-pointer from UNA, Danny Lewis kept KSU alive with the next six points as both teams went point-for-point. Hooker pulled the Owls within single-digits following an 8-0 run from the Simpsonville, S.C., native to make it 55-46 at the 12-minute mark. 
 
Another five straight points from Hooker made it 57-51 with 10 minutes to go. The Owls tried to break through, shooting over 50 percent throughout most of the second half, but UNA was able to answer each KSU bucket to maintain a four-point lead. 
 
Hooker finally broke through with a layup and two free throws to make it a one-point game, 64-63, with just under four minutes left. The Lions regained their cushion with a 5-0 run as KSU went scoreless for the next three minutes. Hooker ended the drought with a jumper at the one-minute mark, but UNA responded with a bucket of its own. 
 
The final minute was played out at the free throw line before Bobby Parker's last second three-point bucket earned the final score of 76-71. KSU out-scored UNA 44-34 in the second half, finishing the period shooting 44.8 percent from the floor.
 
Notes: Tyler Hooker's career-high 33 points marks the seventh time this season he has recorded 20 or more points … Hooker finished the game with seven rebounds, the sixth time in the last seven games he has logged five or more boards, and five assists … Hooker played all 40 minutes at UNA marking the fourth time this season he has played 40 or more minutes … Danny Lewis recorded his fifth double-digit game of the year with 11 points … KSU finished the game 22-of-27 from the free throw line, the third time this year the Owls have netted 20 or more buckets from the stripe … Hooker's 13 made free throws gives him 108 on the year and marks the third time this season he has recorded 10 or more made free throws … For his career, Hooker has made 236 buckets from the charity stripe to surpass Delbert Love (2011-15) for 10th on the KSU DI career list … The Owls pulled down a season-high 51 rebounds against the Lions, out-rebounding UNA 51-34 … KSU's 51 boards marks the second-most rebounds in a single-game in DI history … Isaac Mbuyamba tied his career-high with 12 rebounds … Bryson Lockley was second on the team with nine rebounds, marking the third straight game with at least seven boards … After UNA went 6-of-11 from three-point range in the first half, the Owls held the Lions to 1-of-7 from beyond the arc in the second period.
 
Up next: The Owls return home to host North Florida Wednesday (Jan. 30) at 7 p.m.