Thursday, February 27
7 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-26, 0-14) vs Liberty (26-3, 12-2)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, February 29
1 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (1-26, 0-14) vs NJIT (8-19, 5-9)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

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

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team closes out the 2019-20 season at home this week hosting Liberty Thursday night at 7 p.m., before taking on NJIT for Senior Day Saturday at 1 p.m. The Owls will honor a trio of seniors playing in their final games at the Convocation Center in Drew Romich, Bryson Lockley and Tyler Hooker.

» Tyler Hooker continues to lead the Owls in scoring after netting 20 points at Jacksonville, his fifth game this year with 20 or more points. He is averaging 13.8 points per game to rank eighth in the ASUN. Hooker is currently one of 10 Owls in program history to net over 1,300 career points (1,395), moving into fifth place on the all-time list after netting 10 points in KSU's recent outing at UNA. Hooker has netted 10 or more points in all but five games this season.

» Bryson Lockley has been on a tear for the Owls lately, netting 22 points against FGCU to mark just the second time in his career he has scored over 20 points. Lockley has logged six or more rebounds in five of the last six games, including his third double-double of the year against Lipscomb finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Texas native is the only Owl to average at least five rebounds (5.1) and five points (8.1) per game.

» The Owls are one of the top teams in the conference from the free throw line, ranked fourth with a 69.5 shooting percentage. Tyler Hooker leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference shooting 79.4 percent at the stripe while ranked fourth for total free throws made (85). If maintained, the Owls' current free throw percentage would rank tied for second in KSU DI single-season history.

» The Owls have picked up their defensive pressure in ASUN play, averaging 5.7 steals per game to rank fourth in the league. Tyler Hooker (5th) and C.J. Washington (8th) rank among the top-10 with 19 and 17 steals, respectively, in league play.

» Redshirt freshman C.J. Washington had a breakout game in KSU's last outing against Jacksonville, tying his career-high with 14 points and two made three-pointers. Washington finished the game 4-for-4 at the free throw line while adding three rebounds and a steal.

SENIOR SHOWCASE
KSU will honor three seniors this week who will close out their collegiate careers in the Convocation Center, Drew Romich, Bryson Lockley and Tyler Hooker.

Romich came back home to Marietta as a junior last season, seeing major minutes off the bench for KSU in 2019-20. He made his first career start at Belmont earlier this year, earning nine total. Recording 64 total rebounds on the year, Romich was clutch for the Owls pulling down a career-high 10 boards in their win over Gardner-Webb.

Joining the Owls as a redshirt sophomore in 2017-18, Lockley made an immediate impact ranking second on the team with 22 blocks while totaling 94 rebounds. Since then, he has seen action in all but one game over the last two years, leading the team in rebounds the last two seasons and finishing last season ranked seventh in the ASUN. The Houston, Texas native has logged eight double-doubles in his career, including a career-performance against UNF this year where he scored a career-high 23 points while adding 11 rebounds. He has pulled down 10 or more boards in nine games, including a career-high 14 rebounds twice.

One of the Owls' all-time scorers, Hooker came to KSU from Simpsonville, S.C., averaging 6.1 points his freshman season while doling out 60 assists. An ASUN Second Team All-Conference selection last season, Tyler ranked second in the league averaging 19 points per game, a mark that ranks fifth in single-season history. His 36 points scored in last year's regular season finale catapulted the Owls into postseason play while tying the division I single-game record. Needing just five more points in his final two games, Hooker will be one of five players in KSU history to finish his career with over 1,400 points scored. He is currently ranked seventh all-time for made field goals and second for made free throws. 

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 five 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 13.8 points per game to rank eighth in the ASUN. Hooker also leads all active players with 26 steals and 39 assists while third for rebounds per game (3.9).

The Simpsonville, S.C., product reached 1,000 career points scored last season, and with 1,375 points in his career he is just the 10th player in KSU history to record over 1,300 career points. He recently moved into fifth on the all-time scoring list and needs just 25 more points to become the fifth player to net over 1,400 career points.

One of the Owls most formidable free throw shooters, he is 85-of-107 at the line this season for a 79.4 shooting percentage at the stripe. Hooker ranks eighth in the ASUN for shooting percentage and fourth for made free throws.

With 366 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. 

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. Lockley is the only player to average at least five rebounds (5.1) and five points (8.1) per game on the year.

With 12 assists over the last five games, he is one assist behind Tyler Hooker for the team lead with 38 total. Lockley's 16 blocks on the year puts him in a tie for 10th in the ASUN standings.

Lockley is also one of three Owls to record over 20 steals so far this season (21).

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).

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 .695 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 79.4 shooting percentage from the free throw line while fourth for made free throws, sinking 85 so far this year.

Five Owls are currently shooting over 70 percent from the charity stripe.

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

THE FILM ROOM
Liberty heads to Kennesaw looking to secure the regular season title, sitting in first place with a 12-2 ASUN record.

The most efficient shooting team in the league, shooting 47.9 percent on the year, Liberty is led by redshirt senior Caleb Homesley who ranks fifth in the ASUN averaging 14.6 points per game.

Having already clinched a spot in the ASUN Tournament, NJIT looks to climb into the three-way tie for fifth place, currently one game behind Jacksonville, North Alabama and FGCU with a game against UNA Thursday night.

Zach Cooks leads the Highlanders and the ASUN averaging 19.3 points per game while ranking first in the league with 46 steals. 

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