Thursday, January 30
7 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-19, 0-7) at Liberty (19-3, 5-2)
Location: Vines Center | Lynchburg, Va.
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, February 1
5 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-19, 0-7) at North Florida (12-10, 5-2)
Location: UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Game Notes: KSU

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team takes flight as it hits the midway point in the conference season, taking on the top-two teams in the ASUN this week. First the Owls head to Lynchburg for their first meeting this season with Liberty Thursday before trekking south to square off with North Florida Saturday.

» Tyler Hooker looks to continue his momentum from KSU's last game against Jacksonville in which the redshirt senior led all scorers with a season-high 30 points. Hooker sank a season-high 10 field goals and 10 free throws against the Dolphins while also tallying four steals, one shy of his career-high. Hooker currently leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the ASUN averaging 14.4 points per game.

» The Owls are one of the most accurate teams in the ASUN from the free throw line this season, shooting 70.2 percent from the stripe to rank third in the league. KSU is one of three teams this year to shoot over 70 percent. Both Tyler Hooker (7th) and Bryson Lockley (10th) rank among the conference's top-10 for free throw percentage. If maintained, it would mark only the second time in DI history KSU would finish a season shooting over 70 percent from the stripe.

» Jamie Lewis has been a welcome addition to the Owls' lineup after gaining eligibility in late December. The Wake Forest transfer has netted 10 or more points in six of his nine appearances, including a three-game stretch of 30+ points in the opening games of ASUN play. Lewis is the only other Owl to average double-digits on the year, averaging 12.3 points per game.

» 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 seven of the last nine games. After averaging only 4.8 points per game through his first five games, the Texas native is now third on the team averaging 9.5 points per game, 10.4 in conference play.

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 four games with 20+ points during his current nine-game streak. His 30 points in KSU's recent game against Jacksonville was the first time an Owl has netted 30 or more points since Hooker tied the single-game record with 36 points against Stetson last season.

He is currently averaging 14.4 points per game to rank tied for sixth in the ASUN. Hooker also leads all active players with 25 assists and 21 steals while third for rebounds per game (4.5).

The Simpsonville, S.C., product reached 1,000 career points scored last season. With 1,307 points in his career, he is just the 10th player in DI history to record over 1,300 career points.

One of the Owls most formidable free throw shooters, he is 63-of-78 at the line this season for an 80.8 shooting percentage at the stripe. Hooker ranks seventh in the ASUN for shooting percentage and tied for fourth for made free throws.

With 344 made free throws during his KSU career, Hooker is one of five Owls in DI history to make over 300 free throws, currently ranked second 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 nine games played Lewis is averaging 27.6 minutes, 12.3 points and 3.4 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 six 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 five Owls with at least 10 made treys on the year.

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 17 games making him one of two players to start in at least 15 games this year.

Obineke has netted double-figures in seven of the last nine 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 9.5 points per game, 10.4 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 three games. Obineke drained a career-high four three-pointers against Stetson, finishing 4-of-7 from distance. Obineke is KSU's leading three-point shooter with 24 made treys, shooting 30.4 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 70.2 shooting percentage. KSU has shot over 80 percent from the stripe in three of the last four games.

Tyler Hooker (80.8 percent) and Bryson Lockley (76.4 percent) rank seventh and 10th, respectively in the ASUN. Five Owls are currently shooting over 70 percent from the charity stripe.

If the Owls maintain their current shooting percentage it would rank second in KSU DI single-season history while marking 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 for KSU, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 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 13 blocks while ranked second for assists (24) and third for steals (16).

Lockley's 13 blocks this year puts him in a tie for eighth in the ASUN standings.

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
Liberty looks to bounce back Thursday night against the Owls after dropping two straight games to North Florida and Stetson this past week.

The Flames are led by redshirt senior Caleb Homesley who ranks in the top-15 in the ASUN for points (11th), assists (14th), rebounds (15th) and blocks (8th).

North Florida looks to continue its climb up the ASUN standings after defeating Liberty and falling to Lipscomb last weekend. UNF is currently in a three-way tie with Liberty and Stetson at 5-2 in the ASUN, taking on Stetson Thursday night before the Owls.

The best three-point shooting team in the country, the Ospreys lead the NCAA with 263 made three-pointers on the year, averaging 12 per game. The top three three-point shooters in the league are all on UNF with each netting over 55 treys on the season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following their road swing, the Owls return to the Convocation Center to face Lipscomb Saturday (Feb. 8) in their annual Pink Day game.

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