Friday, March 1
7 p.m.  – Kennesaw State (5-25, 2-13) vs Stetson (7-23, 3-12)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Convocation Center
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats 
Game Notes: KSU | Stetson

Top Storylines
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team closes out the regular season at home Friday night, taking on Stetson in a pivotal senior night matchup set to tip-off at 7 p.m. Before the game, KSU will honor its two seniors, Kyle Clarke and Kosta Jankovic, who will be playing in the final home game of their careers.
» Heading into Friday night's season finale, the Owls path to postseason play is simple, win and they're in. The Hatters have a game in hand on KSU, but if the Owls can win they would have matching conference records with KSU earning the No. 8 seed over Stetson based on tiebreakers.
» Freshman transfer Danny Lewis went off at Liberty, sinking six three-pointers to record a career-high 27 points. Lewis has netted 10 or more points in nine of the last 10 games, averaging 10.9 points per game in conference play.
» Tyler Hooker snapped his 27-game streak of 10 or more points in KSU's last game at Liberty, finishing with eight points. Despite the slight bump, Hooker remains second in the league averaging 18.4 points per game and is the only player in the league to score over 550 points this season.
» KSU has been huge around the rim all season, ranking fourth in the ASUN for both rebounds (36.5) and blocks (3.4) per game. Three Owls rank among the league's top-20 in both categories.
» After four seasons at the helm of the Owls, Head Coach Al Skinner will step down following the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.

The Matchup
The Hatters head to Kennesaw looking to secure the final spot in the ASUN Tournament, standing at 7-23 overall and 3-12 in conference play. Stetson won the first meeting between the two teams earlier this year, downing KSU 92-75 in DeLand.

One of the ASUN's more active defenses, Stetson ranks second in the league averaging 6.9 steals per game. Five Hatters have recorded at least 20 steals this season with Jahlil Rawley and Kenny Aninye ranked among the league's top-15. Aninye is also one of four players in the league to log over 100 assists on the year, currently ranked third with 103 total dimes.

The Hatters are led by sophomore Abayomi Iyiola who is averaging 10.5 points per game. Iyiola is sixth in the conference for rebounds per game (7.6) and fifth for total blocks (36).

Last Time Out
Despite a career-high 27 points from Danny Lewis, the Kennesaw State men's basketball team fell to league-leaders Liberty Tuesday night as the Flames shot over 62 percent from the floor in the second half to pull away and down KSU 76-59.

After five points from Lewis put the Owls in front early, the Flames responded with three-straight three-pointers to open a 14-2 run, capped off by another trey, to lead 17-7 at the 14:32 mark. The two teams traded buckets until three points the hard way from Kyle Clarke sparked a 10-2 run to pull KSU within four, 24-20, with 7:33 left in the half.

Following another three from Lewis, who went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for 13 points in the first half, the Owls and Flames proceeded to go point-for-point to close out the period. KSU shot over 40 percent for most of the half, winning the battle on the boards 20-13, to keep it close, trailing 33-29 at the break.

Liberty came out in the second half with a purpose, sinking back-to-back three-pointers for a 10-0 run to lead 43-29. The Flames started the second half 6-of-6 from the floor to push their lead to 47-31 at the 15:23 mark.

After a 6-0 run, the Owls went nearly five-minutes without a bucket as Liberty extended its lead to 58-38 behind an 11-0 run. Lewis finally ended the drought with his fifth trey of the night.

The Flames kept a 20-point lead the rest of the game, answering each Owl bucket. KSU closed out the game with an 8-2 run capped off by a three-pointer from Kosta Jankovic to earn the final score.

Oh Danny Boy
Freshman transfer Danny Lewis has found his groove as of late, netting 10 or more points in nine of the last 10 games, including a career-high 27 points in KSU's last game at Liberty.

Lewis drained six three-pointers against the Flames, shooting a career-high 55.6 percent from the floor, to mark his second straight game, third of the last five, with at least three made treys.

The Atlanta, Ga., native began conference play averaging only three points over the first three games, and is now averaging 13.7 points per game over the current 10-game stretch.

For the year, Lewis is averaging 10.5 points per game, joining Tyler Hooker as the only Owls to average over 10 points per game. That average is good enough for 20th in the conference.

After netting at least one three-pointer in the last 10 games, Lewis has moved into ninth in the league with a 37.9 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

The Block Is Hot
KSU has been dominating the rim lately recording three or more blocks in nine of the last 11 games, including a program record 12 blocks against North Alabama.

Five Owls logged at least two blocks against UNA to help set the new single-game program record. KSU's 12 blocks is three stuffs shy of the ASUN single-game record. Tyler Hooker and Ugo Obineke each recorded career-highs with three and two blocks, respectively.

As a team, the Owls are fourth in the conference averaging 3.4 blocks per game, a mark that ranks among the top-10 in KSU DI single-season history. KSU has logged 102 total blocks this season, marking only the second time in the last eight seasons the Owls have hit the century mark for blocks. That mark is currently tied for fifth on the DI single-season record list.

Isaac Mbuyamba leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the conference with 33 total blocks. After his three blocks at FGCU, Mbuyamba moved into a tie with Devon Kirksey (1997-98) for 10th on the KSU single-season record list.

With 60 blocks in his career, the Portland, Ore., product has jumped into a tie for ninth on the KSU all-time blocks list with Herman Smith (1986-90).

In KSU's recent game at Jacksonville, Mbuyamba logged his second game this year with five or more blocks, logging five stuffs to tie the previous DI single-game record. At Gardner-Webb Mbuyamba recorded a career-high six blocks to set the DI single-game record for KSU, falling just one block shy of the overall program record of seven set by Ron Ruffin in 1995.

Antonio Spencer has been another threat to opposing offenses, recording 26 blocks, 16 during league play, to rank ninth in the league.  

Bryson Lockley is the third Owl to rank among the league's best shot-blockers, logging at least one block in six of the last seven games, including a career-high four stuffs at North Florida. to move into a tie for 11th with 20 blocks.

Mbuyamba, Spencer and Lockley are three of the 14 players in the league to record at least 20 blocks on the year.

Balling Out
Despite snapping a 27-game streak of 10 or more points at Liberty, Tyler Hooker remains one of the ASUN's top scorers, averaging 18.4 points per game to rank second in the league. Hooker has hit double-figures in all but two games this year, including 10 games with over 20 points.

The Simpsonville, S.C., native is the only player in the league to score over 550 points this season placing him among the nation's top-50. Following his 20 points against North Alabama, Hooker jumped into ninth on the all-time single-season points scored record list. He needs just four more points to overtake Julius Teal (1998-99) for eighth and 28 points to jump into fourth.

Hooker hit 1,000 career points scored this year, with 1,041 points and counting throughout his three years at KSU.

Part of Hooker's success this year can be attributed to his accuracy from the free throw line, leading the league with 145 made buckets from the charity stripe, a mark that ranks 27th in the NCAA. He is one of two players in the league with over 130 made free throws. Hooker is currently shooting 82.9 percent at the line to rank fifth in the conference.

Rounding out his stellar performance this season, Hooker ranks fifth in the league for both assists (90) and steals (46). 

Now Boarding
So far this year, KSU is averaging 36.5 rebounds per game to rank fourth in the ASUN. If maintained, that average would set a new DI single-season record previously established in 2016-17.

The Owls surpassed 1,000 rebounds on the season following their game against North Alabama. After recording 31 rebounds at Liberty, KSU moved into fourth on the DI single-season record list with 1,096 rebounds this season. That total ranks 32nd in the country.

The Owls pulled down a season-high 51 rebounds in their game at North Alabama. That total is the second-most rebounds in a single-game, just four boards shy of the KSU DI record, while marking only the third time in DI history that the Owls have secured 50 or more rebounds.

Three Owls are currently ranked among the conference's top-25 for rebounds per game. Lockley ranks seventh in the conference averaging 7.3 rebounds per game while Isaac Mbuyamba (5.3 rpg) and Tyler Hooker (4.7 rpg) rank 14th and 21st, respectively.

Three Owls have recorded 10 or more rebounds in a game this season with Lockley accomplishing the feat six times, followed by Mbuyamba three times and Kosta Jankovic once.

At The Stripe
The Owls have been one of the hottest shooting teams from the free throw line during ASUN play, shooting 70 percent or better in all but five games. In conference play, KSU is second in the league shooting 73.4 percent at the line.

The Owls are fourth overall in the league with 386 made free throws. KSU has recorded 20 or more free throws in three games, including 31 against Eastern Kentucky, a mark that is tied for third most all-time in a single-game.

KSU's 69.3 shooting percentage from the free throw line this year is fifth in the league and would rank among the top-5 DI single-season performances.

Tyler Hooker has been a major factor in the Owls production at the stripe, leading the conference with 145 made free throws on the year, one of four players with over 100 made buckets. That mark is good enough for 27th in the NCAA.

He is also ranked fifth in the league shooting 82.9 percent at the line. Hooker has not missed more than two free throws in a game all year, shooting less than 60 percent at the line only once, going 1-of-2 at Samford.

Hooker broke the century mark on the year after going 13-of-14 from the charity stripe at North Alabama, tying his career-high set earlier this season against EKU.

With 145 made free throws on the year, Hooker is currently ranked third on the KSU DI single-season record list. Hooker also ranks among the top-10 scorers for career made free throws, recording 273 free throws to rank eighth. This year he has made 10 or more free throws in three games.

Bryson Lockley has been another clutch shooter at the line with 77 made free throws to rank ninth in the league. Lockley is shooting 67.0 percent from the line to rank 16th in the league.

From Long Distance!
Danny Lewis became the fourth Owl this season to sink six three-pointers in a game after going 6-of-13 at Liberty. Lewis has made at least one trey in the last 10 games, three or more in three of the last five.

Lewis joins Bobby Parker as the only two Owls to record five or more three-pointers in a game twice this year. The Atlanta, Ga., native ranks ninth in the conference shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Lewis, Parker, Tyler Hooker and Kosta Jankovic have all recorded six three-pointers in a game this year, the second most treys made in a single-game in KSU DI history.

As a team, the Owls are shooting 30.7 percent from three-point range to rank among the top-10 in DI single-season history.

Lewis, Parker and Hooker are all tied for 23rd in the league with 33 made three-pointers this season.

Bracketology
It's simple, win and the Owls are in.

The final spot for the ASUN Tournament comes down to Friday night's matchup. If KSU can defeat Stetson, the Owls would finish tied with the Hatters with a 3-13 conference record.

The Owls would rank ahead of Stetson based on their records against opposing teams in the ASUN. KSU's wins over North Florida and NJIT, who are currently ranked third and fourth in the league, outrank Stetson's wins over FGCU and North Alabama, who rank fifth and sixth. 

Skinner To Step Down Following Season
After four seasons at the helm of the Owls, Head Coach Al Skinner will step down following the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.

Skinner is currently 40-81 over his four seasons at KSU, leading the Owls to 25 wins from 2014-17, tying the best three-year stretch since moving to Division I (25 wins from 2005-08). The Owls best finish in the ASUN came during the 2016-17 season when KSU went 7-7 in league play to tie USC Upstate for fourth. 

Looking Ahead
Depending on how Friday night's game goes, the Owls' 2018-19 season will either come to an end or they will begin preparation for the ASUN Tournament, which opens Monday (Mar. 4). 

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