Friday, Jan. 22
7:00 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (3-11, 0-6) at North Florida (4-10, 2-2)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, Jan. 23
5:00 p.m. ET  – Kennesaw State (3-11, 0-6) at North Florida (4-10, 2-2)
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats

Location: UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
Game Notes: KSU

TOP STORYLINES
» The Kennesaw State men's basketball team returns to action this weekend to make up its previously postponed games against North Florida. The Ospreys have split both of their ASUN weekends so far this season as KSU looks for its first conference win of the year and first road win since February of 2018.

» The Owls record this season only tells part of the story with KSU holding opponents to 70 points or less in nine of its 14 games. Seven of KSU's losses have been by 10 points or less. For comparison, the Owls had only three games decided by 10 points or less during the 2019-20 season. The Owls have a -2.5 scoring margin on the year, a vast improvement from its -20 scoring margin a year ago. Defensively, the Owls rank fourth in the league for points allowed (66.6), third for defensive field goal percentage (42.5%) and third for defensive rebounds per game (26.4).

» Junior transfer Spencer Rodgers had his double-digit scoring streak snapped in KSU's last outing against UNA netting only eight points. It was the first time this season he failed to score 10 or more points in a game. Despite that, Rodgers is still averaging 16.0 points per game to rank second in the ASUN. He is one of just two players in the league, the other being league-leader Dontarius James (19 ppg), to average over 15 points per game. An all-around performer, Rodgers also leads the team in steals (15) while ranked second for assists (24) and third for rebounds per game (3.9).

» Freshman Chris Youngblood has lived up to the hype in his first season as an Owl, currently ranked second on the team and 13th in the ASUN averaging 12.4 points per game. He is the only true freshman to rank in the league's top-20 for scoring and is one of 11 players in the league to net over 150 points on the year. Youngblood has netted at least one three-pointer in all but two games, three or more treys in seven games this year, to rank ninth in the ASUN averaging 2.1 treys per game.

» Brandon Stroud and Alex Peterson have combined to run the boards for KSU this season ranked 14th and 15th respectively in the league for rebounds per game. The duo have combined to record nearly a third of all KSU's rebounds on the year. Stroud leads the team averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, recording a five-game stretch of at least six points and six boards earlier this season. He returned to those ways with six points and six rebounds in KSU's recent game against UNA. Peterson has recorded at least five rebounds in all but four games this year to average 5.3 boards per game.

RODGER THAT
Junior transfer Spencer Rodgers has been an offensive force for the Black and Gold, netting double-figures in all but one game, including a career-high 31 points in KSU's recent road trip to Liberty. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native ranks second in the league for scoring and is one of five players to record over 200 points on the year.

Rodgers is currently averaging 16.0 points per game, netting 20 or more points five times this season. He is one of two players in the league to average 15 or more points per game.

Deadly from range, Rodgers' 32 made three-pointers currently puts him in seventh in the conference averaging 2.3 per game. He is one of nine players in the conference to net at least 30 three-pointers.

Off the ball, Rodgers is just as productive, ranked third on the team averaging 3.9 rebounds per game. He tied his career-high with seven boards in back-to-back games against Dalton State and Belmont. Rodgers is also second on the team for total assists (24) while leading the team in steals (15).

THE THREE MUSKETEERS
The highly touted Georgia trio of Chris Youngblood, Brandon Stroud and Kasen Jennings have certainly lived up to the hype this year. The trio have combined to record over a third of KSU's total points scored.

Youngblood made a major impact in his debut almost instantly, draining three straight three-pointers in just over a minute and a half after hitting the floor. He led the team with 17 points in just 15 minutes of action against Carver, recording five total three-pointers. Youngblood has netted three or more treys in seven games this season, averaging 2.1 per game to rank ninth in the ASUN.

The Sharpsburg, Ga., native has hit double-figures in all but four games, recording a career-high 24 points against Dalton State. He ranks 13th in the ASUN for scoring averaging 12.4 points per game. Youngblood is the only true freshman to rank among the league's top-20 scorers. He is also one of 11 players to record at least 150 points on the year (174).

Youngblood is one of four players on the team to record double-digit steals (10), while ranked second for blocks (8) and third for assists (20).

East Coweta teammate Stroud had a slow start in KSU's season-opener, netting just three points on 1-of-6 shooting, but was big off the ball with four rebounds, three steals and two assists. He has continued to up his game as of late recording at least six rebounds in seven of the last 10 games.

During the current stretch, Stroud recorded the team's first double-double of the year against Samford with 11 points and 11 rebounds. His current play has made him the team leader in the paint averaging 5.6 rebounds per game, placing him 14th in the league. He is also second on the team with 14 steals.

After a stellar start to his freshman season, crosstown rival turned teammate Jennings has returned to form after being sidelined for three games due to concussion protocols. Despite that gap, he is still one of the team leaders with 13 steals and 19 assists

Jennings has hit double-digits three times this year and is averaging 5.2 points per game. He pulled down a team and career-high seven rebounds at UAB and has had at least one steal and one assist in the last five games.

ON LOCK
The Owls have held nine opponents to 70 points or less so far this season, including season-lows for Belmont and Samford. Both the Bruins and Bulldogs were averaging over 80 points per game before squaring off with KSU. Comparatively, the Owls held only six opponents to less than 70 points in 2019-20.

As a team, the Owls are holding opponents to an average of 66.6 points per game, the fourth-lowest average in the ASUN. If maintained, KSU's current -2.5 scoring margin would rank third in the DI single-season record books.

The Owls rank fourth in the league for rebounding offense (35.8) and fourth for rebounding defense (34.2), one of five teams in the league with a positive rebound margin.

Four Owls have recorded at least 10 steals on the year with Kasen Jennings ranked 14th in the league for steals per game.

After recording his third game with two or more blocks against Mercer, Cole LaRue ranks eighth in the conference for total blocks with nine. As a team, the Owls rank fifth overall in the ASUN averaging 3.1 stuffs per game.

UP NEXT
Following the weekend trip to Jacksonville, the Owls are back home to take on ASUN newcomers Bellarmine Friday (Jan. 29) and Saturday (Jan. 30).

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