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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Kennesaw State men's basketball team fell into a hole early as a cold-shooting first half doomed the Owls in a 73-51 loss at FGCU Thursday night.
 
How it Happened: It was a low scoring affair to open the game as the Owls (1-16, 0-4) and Eagles (6-14, 3-2) battled it out in the first period. FGCU slowly pulled ahead, 14-1, as the KSU struggled to find the bottom of the net. Tyler Hooker had the Owls' only points in the first 11 minutes of action thanks to a trip to the free throw line. Redshirt freshman Jamie Lewis finally ended the drought with a three-pointer to make it 14-4 with 8:42 left in the first half.
 
That would prove to be the Owls' sole bucket of the first half as KSU finished the period 1-of-25 from the floor. FGCU extended its lead to 34-7 before the first half came to a close, with Hooker netting two more free throws.
 
Hooker looked to turn the tide in the second half with a tough layup on the Owls' first possession, followed by two free throws from Bryson Lockley to make it 34-11 just one minute in to the period. FGCU responded with an 11-0 run to extend its lead to 45-11 before a jumper from Hooker snapped the Eagles' run.
 
Hooker and Lewis combined for 26 of the Owls' 42 points in the second half as both netted over 10 points in the period. KSU would cut the Eagles' lead in half, 63-38, behind a 17-3 run eventually snapped at the 4:49 mark. The Owls out-scored FGCU 44-39 in the second half, but could not overcome the first half deficit as the Eagles held on to earn the win.
 
Notes: Jamie Lewis recorded his third straight game with 20 or more points, leading the team with 20 … Tyler Hooker was the second Owl in double-figures with 13, his seventh straight game … Lewis netted three three-pointers for the third straight game, fourth of the season … KSU's seven points scored in the first half is the fewest points scored in a half in D1 history … FGCU out-rebounded KSU 53-39 and out-scored the Owls 44-16 in the paint.
 
Quotes: Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
On the game…
"The entire game is on me as the Head Coach. I did a poor job of preparing our guys mentally for this game. We played with lackluster effort on both ends of the floor and it was not reflective of the core values of Kennesaw State University or the Kennesaw community. No excuses. I have to be better."
 
Up Next: The Owls make the trip north to take on NJIT Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.