Thursday, February 20
7 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-24, 0-12) at North Alabama (10-16, 5-8)
Location: Flowers Hall | Florence, Ala.
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, February 22
6 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-24, 0-12) at Jacksonville (12-15, 5-7)
Location: Swisher Gymnasium | Jacksonville, Fla.
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Game Notes: KSU

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team closes out its final road swing of the regular season this week with a trip to North Alabama Thursday night before heading to Jacksonville for a Saturday evening tilt with the Dolphins.

» KSU opened its current road trip with a defensive battle at Stetson this past Saturday. Tyler Hooker led the Owls with 16 points and four assists. Hooker leads the team in scoring averaging 13.7 points per game to rank seventh in the ASUN. Hooker is currently one of 10 Owls in program history to net over 1,300 career points (1,365), needing just five points to move into fifth on the all-time record list.

» Bryson Lockley has been on a tear over the Owls last four games, netting 22 points against FGCU to mark just the second time in his career he has scored over 20 points. Lockley recorded his third double-double of the season in KSU's recent outing against Lipscomb, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Texas native is currently averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds over the past four games, adding nine total assists. He is the only Owl to average at least five rebounds (5.2) and five points (8.2) per game.

» The Owls are one of the top teams in the conference from the free throw line, ranked fourth with a 69.3 shooting percentage. Tyler Hooker leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference shooting 78.8 percent at the stripe while ranked fourth for total free throws made (78). If maintained, the Owls' current free throw percentage would rank third in KSU DI single-season history.

» The Owls have picked up their defensive pressure in ASUN play, averaging 5.9 steals per game to rank fourth in the league. Tyler Hooker (4th) and C.J. Washington (6th) rank among the top-10 with 18 and 16 steals, respectively, in league play.

GOT IT ON LOCK
Redshirt senior Bryson Lockley has done it all for KSU, leading the team in multiple categories while ranked among the top three on the squad for nearly everything else. He has been on fire as of late after nearly tying his career-high with 22 points against FGCU while adding a team-high seven rebounds.

The Houston, Texas native secured his third double-double of the year against Lipscomb, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. Over the current four-game stretch he is averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Lockley is the only player to average at least five rebounds (5.2) and five points (8.2) per game on the year.

With nine assists over the last three games, he is one assist behind Tyler Hooker for the team lead with 35 total. Lockley's 15 blocks on the year puts him in a tie for ninth in the ASUN standings.

Lockley is also one of three Owls to record over 15 steals so far this season (19).

The Houston, Texas native had arguably one of the best games of his career while recording a double-double 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 MASKED SCORER
Redshirt senior Tyler Hooker made his triumphant return in KSU's game against Lipscomb in January 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 five games this year, including four games with 20+ points. 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 13.7 points per game to rank seventh in the ASUN. Hooker also leads all active players with 25 steals and 36 assists while third for rebounds per game (4.0).

The Simpsonville, S.C., product reached 1,000 career points scored last season, and with 1,365 points in his career he is just the 10th player in KSU history to record over 1,300 career points. With five more points he will move into fifth on the career record list and with 35 more points he will become just the fifth player to net over 1,400 career points.

One of the Owls most formidable free throw shooters, he is 78-of-99 at the line this season for a 78.8 shooting percentage at the stripe. Hooker ranks eighth in the ASUN for shooting percentage and fourth for made free throws.

With 359 made free throws during his KSU career, Hooker is one of five Owls in program history to make over 300 free throws, currently ranked second on the career record list. 

FREE NINETY NINE
The Owls have been on point from the free throw line so far this season, ranked fourth in the ASUN with a .693 shooting percentage. KSU has shot over 80 percent from the stripe in six games this year.

Tyler Hooker ranks eighth in the league with a 78.8 shooting percentage from the free throw line while fourth for made free throws, sinking 78 so far this year.

Five Owls are currently shooting over 70 percent from the charity stripe with Bryson Lockley's 71.8 percent placing him 13th in the ASUN.

If the Owls maintain their current shooting percentage it would rank third in KSU DI single-season history.

THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED
Wake Forest transfer Jamie Lewis has provided a much-needed spark for KSU since becoming eligible against Wofford. He is averaging 26.1 minutes, 9.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while third on the team with 22 assists.

Lewis has 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 points (24) and rebounds (8) while adding two assists and two steals.

The Atlanta, Ga., native is second on the team with 15 made three-pointers. He leads the team shooting 40.5 percent from three-point range and is one of five Owls with at least 10 made treys on the year.

THE FILM ROOM
North Alabama looks to snap its five-game losing streak Thursday against the Owls, currently tied for sixth in the league with a 5-8 conference record.

UNA is one of the top defensive teams in the league ranked second in the ASUN for rebounds per game (35.6) and first for steals per game (6.5).

Jacksonville looks to try and secure a top-4 seed this weekend, currently two games behind No. 4 Lipscomb in the standings with a game against the Bisons Thursday.

JU, the top rebounding team in the ASUN averaging 38.3 boards per game, is led by David Bell who is averaging a double-double with 12 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Bell also has 49 blocks on the year.

LOOKING AHEAD
After closing out its road trip, KSU returns to the Convocation Center next week for its final games of the season. The Owls host Liberty Thursday night (Feb. 27) before taking on NJIT for senior night Saturday (Feb. 29) at 1 p.m.
 

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