By: Matteen Rad
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State men's basketball team came up short on Saturday afternoon, as they dropped their final game of the season to NJIT 76-55 on Senior Night. KSU honored
Tyler Hooker,
Bryson Lockley, and
Drew Romich before playing in the last game of their collegiate career.
The seniors put on a show in in their final game as Lockley neared a double-double with a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Hooker also tallied double-figures, adding 13 points and five assists while Romich netted a career-high four points to go along with four boards.
How it Happened: The opening minutes were a back-and-forth affair with Hooker contributing a three-point shot and a couple of made free throws. The Highlanders (9-20, 6-10) captured a lead with 15:33 left to go in the half, going on an 11-0 run to lead 18-7 and never looking back.
Lockley fought hard in the first half, scoring five points and snagging six of his eight rebounds in the period. With 10:52 to still to play, he brought the Owls (1-28, 0-16) within 10 points thanks to a trifecta, but the Highlanders responded with a 9-0 run to extend their lead.
NJIT captured its first 20-point lead of the night following a Zach Cooks three-pointer to make the score 37-16 at the 5:34 mark. The two teams entered the locker room with the Owls trailing 41-20.
Lockley brought KSU within 20 points to open the second half with a shot from the three-point line to cap off a quick 6-0 run; however, the Highlanders continued to build on their lead with a 10-0 run to put them up 63-32 with under 10 minutes to go.
Another triple by Lockley, his career-high third of the day, put him in double-figures just 11:51 into the half. Hooker built on that momentum with two jumpers to cap off a 13-0 swing for the Owls, bringing his team within 20, 65-45.
The Owls could not break that 20-point barrier though as Lockley made sure to end his college career with a bang, throwing down a thunderous dunk for his final points as an Owl.
C.J. Washington and
Adili Kuerban combined for the KSU's final eight points of the game as Head Coach
Amir Abdur-Rahim subbed out his three seniors with less than a minute to go to a standing ovation from the Convocation Center crowd.
Quotes: Head Coach
Amir Abdur-Rahim
On KSU's performance...
"I thought we came out with an absolute lack of effort and energy. I'm a little bit baffled by it for two reasons. One, because I thought we built some momentum and played well on Thursday. And then, what our three seniors have meant to us, have meant the world to this team. I was hoping, and we talked about it for two days, if anything you give the energy and effort for them. We didn't do a really good job of that, and when you allow a team like NJIT to come in here and gain confidence, it hurts you every time."
