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Score: UAB 73, Kennesaw State 48
Records: Kennesaw State (2-1, 0-0), UAB (3-0, 0-0)
Key Players: Spencer Rodgers (17 pts, 5 rebs), Kasen Jennings (4 pts, 7 rebs), Armani Harris (6 pts, 3 rebs), Chris Youngblood (6 pts, 1 stl) and Cole LaRue (2 pts, 4 rebs, 3 blks).
 
THE STORYLINE: 
The Kennesaw State men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season at UAB Wednesday night as the Blazers took advantage of the Owls turnovers in the first half to earn the 73-48 victory. 
 
ABDUR-RAHIM QUOTES:
On the first road game…
"Tonight was a good test and lesson for us as a young team on the road for the first time. I thought we started out well and trusted our training and trusted each other. UAB made a run as older experienced teams will do at home and we splintered in the first half which allowed them to build a comfortable lead. Offensively we need to be stronger with the ball and share the ball better.
 
On the Owls' defense in the second half…
"Defensively, I was very pleased with how we played in the second half. Holding them to 30 points on 35.7 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent from the three-point line. However, no matter how well you play defensively when you turn it over 19 times and they score 22 points off of those turnovers, it's hard to win on the road. That's on me as the head coach to have them better prepared. Again, this was a great test and lesson for us. We will improve and get better from it."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Blazers started the game off hot, going 6-for-10 from the floor in the opening minutes following the opening jumper from Spencer Rodgers. Jamie Lewis kept the Owls in it early on, 9-8, converting a free throw following a three-pointer for the old fashioned four-point play. After a quick 6-0 run capped off by a layup from Terrell Burden tied the game at 14-14 with 10:37 still to play, UAB responded with back-to-back treys and an 8-0 run to re-take the lead 22-14. 
 
The Blazers took control down the stretch with a 19-4 run in the final six and a half minutes as KSU went cold from the floor. Only Rodgers and Chris Youngblood found the bottom of the net in the final minutes, with Rodgers three-pointer putting him at 11 points in the opening period, as UAB led 43-22 at the half. 
 
The Owls committed 11 turnovers in the first half compared to one for UAB, leading to 13 points.   
 
KSU locked it down defensively in the second period, holding UAB to 2-for-10 from the floor in opening six and a half minutes. The Owls could not capitalize on the other end of the floor though, struggling to break the 20-point lead held by the Blazers. A layup from Armani Harris cut the lead to 18, 56-38, at the 9:40 mark, but that was as close as the Owls would get as UAB responded with a 10-0 run to lead 66-38. Both squads traded buckets in the final minutes before Rodgers' layup with under a minute to play earned the final score of 73-48.
 
NOTES
- Spencer Rodgers led all scorers with 17 points, his third straight game netting double-figures.
- Kasen Jennings pulled down a career-high seven rebounds.
- KSU totaled six blocks on the night led by Cole LaRue with three.
- The Owls committed 19 turnovers to UAB's 9, resulting in 22 points off turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
KSU continues its week on the road traveling to Omaha, Neb., to take on Big East foe Creighton Friday night at 5 p.m. ET.

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.