Thursday, January 23
7 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-17, 0-5) vs North Alabama (8-11, 3-3)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, January 25
4:30 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-17, 0-5) vs Jacksonville (8-12, 1-4)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Location: Convocation Center | Kennesaw, Ga.
Game Notes: KSU 

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team returns from its three-game road trip to host North Alabama Thursday followed by Jacksonville Saturday. The tilt against JU Saturday afternoon marks the annual Coaches vs Cancer game for the Owls.

» KSU looks to bounce back after dropping their recent road games at FGCU and NJIT. Jamie Lewis and Tyler Hooker were the only Owls to net double-figures over the road swing with Lewis averaging 17 points. Lewis leads the team averaging 14.1 points over his seven games played, snapping his three-game streak of 20+ points at NJIT. Hooker has hit double-figures in eight straight games, three with 20 or more, to average 13.4 points per game and rank seventh in the ASUN.

» Led by Tyler Hooker's 83.3 percent shooting, the Owls are one of the top shooting teams in the ASUN from the free throw line. KSU is currently shooting 69.8 percent from the stripe to rank third in the league. Hooker ranks sixth in the conference while Bryson Lockley comes in at 11th with a 74.5 shooting percentage. If maintained, the Owls' current free throw percentage would rank second in KSU DI single-season history.

» After missing the first three games of the season due to injury, sophomore Ugo Obineke has started every game for the Owls. Obineke has continued to elevate his game netting double-figures in five of the last seven games. After averaging only 4.8 points per game through his first five games, the Texas native is now third on the team averaging 9.3 points per game. In conference play he is averaging 10.4 ppg.

» Bryson Lockley opened ASUN play with his second double-double of the year, logging a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds. It's the first 20+ point game for the redshirt-senior who scored 17 points in the second half alone. He is currently the only player to average over five rebounds (5.1) and five points (7.6) per game while leading the team with 11 blocks.

» The Owls have had to contend with the injury bug and a depleted roster throughout the season. KSU only had seven players active during its win over Gardner-Webb. Currently, freshmen Armani Harris and Terrell Burden are out for the season with leg injuries, while Antonio Spencer and Tyler Hooker recently made their return to action.

THE MASKED SCORER
Redshirt senior Tyler Hooker made his triumphant return in KSU's game against Lipscomb sporting some new headgear after missing four games due to an orbital fracture.

Hooker did not lose a step, netting 24 points against the Bisons. He has scored 10 or more points in all but three games this year, including three games with 20+ points during his current eight-game streak. He is currently averaging 13.4 points per game to rank seventh in the ASUN.

The Simpsonville, S.C., product reached 1,000 career points scored last season. With 1,265 points in his career, he is just three points shy of cracking the KSU career top-10.

Hooker leads all active players with 22 assists while second for steals (14) and third for rebounds per game (4.5).

One of the Owls most formidable free throw shooters, he is 50-of-60 at the line this season for an 83.3 shooting percentage at the stripe. Hooker ranks sixth in the ASUN for shooting percentage and made free throws. He has only missed more than one free throw in a game once this year, going 5-of-7 against FIU.

With 331 made free throws during his KSU career, Hooker is one of five Owls in DI history to make over 300 free throws, currently ranked third on the career record list. 

THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED
Wake Forest transfer Jamie Lewis has provided a much-needed spark for KSU since becoming eligible against Wofford. Throughout his seven games played Lewis is averaging 30.3 minutes, 14.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

Lewis is one of two players on the team to average double-digit points so far this year, having netted 10 or more points in five games including three games with 20 or more points.

He had one of the best games of his young career in KSU's outing at Lipscomb, nearly recording a double-double. Lewis earned career-highs for both scoring (24) and rebounds (8) while adding two assists and two steals.

The Atlanta, Ga., native has logged three three-pointers in four games, going 13-of-25 from beyond the arc so far this year. He leads the team shooting 52.0 percent from three-point range and is one of four Owls with at least 10 made treys on the year.

After making his first career start in KSU's ASUN opener against North Florida, Lewis has started the last five games, logging over 30 minutes played in the last four games.

YOU GO UGO!
Sophomore Ugo Obineke has taken his game to the next level over the past few weeks. After missing the first three games of the season due to injury, he has started the last 15 games making him one of two players to start in at least 13 games this year.

Obineke has netted double-figures in five of the last seven games. Before the current stretch, Obineke did not score more than seven points over his first five games, averaging 4.8 points per game. He has since raised his average to 9.3 points per game, 10.3 ppg in conference play, the third highest average on the team.

The Rowlett, Texas native has been on fire from beyond the arc, netting at least one trey in all but two games. Obineke drained a career-high four treys against Stetson, finishing 4-of-7 from distance. Obineke is KSU's leading three-point shooter with 23 made treys, shooting 34.3 percent from beyond the arc. 

FREE NINETY NINE
The Owls have been on point from the free throw line so far this season, ranked third in the ASUN with a 69.8 shooting percentage.

Tyler Hooker (83.3 percent) and Bryson Lockley (74.5 percent) rank seventh and 11th, respectively in the ASUN. Five Owls are currently shooting over 70 percent from the charity stripe.

If the Owls maintain their current shoting percentage it would rank second in KSU DI single-season history. If they can bump that percentage above 70 percent, it would mark only the second time in DI history the Owls would finish a season shooting over 70 percent from the stripe.

LOCKED DOWN
Redshirt senior Bryson Lockley has done it all so far this season, averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to make him the only Owl to average over five points and five rebounds per game this year. He also leads the team with 11 blocks while ranked third for both steals (13) and assists (19).

Lockley ranks among the league's top-15 for both rebounds per game (14th) and total blocks (10th).

The Houston, Texas native had arguably one of the best games of his career, recording his second double-double of the season in KSU's ASUN opener against North Florida. Lockley logged a career-high 23 points, 17 in the second half alone, to go along with 11 rebounds. He is the only player this year to record a double-double, with his first coming against Gardner-Webb (17 points and 12 rebounds).

THE FILM ROOM
North Alabama comes to KSU following a 70-65 win over FGCU to push its league record to 3-3. UNA is led by Christian Agnew (12.8 ppg) and Jamari Blackmon (9.4 rpg) who rank ninth and second respectively in the ASUN for scoring and rebounding.

Jacksonville takes on the Owls following its matchup at Lipscomb Thursday. JU is 1-4 in the ASUN with its sole win coming against NJIT.

The top rebounding team in the conference (38.8 rpg), the Dolphins are led by David Bell who is averaging a double-double (11.9 points, 10.3 rebounds) on the year. Bell leads the league in rebounds per game while ranked third with 31 blocks.

LOOKING AHEAD
After this weekend, KSU hits the road for games at Liberty next Thursday (1/30) and North Florida Friday (2/1).
 

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