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Score: Kennesaw State 63, Liberty 69
Records: Kennesaw State (3-8, 0-3), Liberty (10-4, 2-1)
Key Players: Spencer Rodgers (31 pts, 6 rebs, 2 stls), Kasen Jennings (11 pts, 4 rebs), Chris Youngblood (9 pts, 3 rebs, 4 assts), Alex Peterson (4 pts, 8 rebs, 1 blk) and Brandon Stroud (3 pts, 8 rebs, 2 assts).
 
THE STORYLINE: 
The Kennesaw State men's basketball team pushed two-time defending champions Liberty to the limit Friday night after jumping out to a 12-0 lead in the opening minutes. The Flames eventually heated up to take the lead behind a similar run to open the second period, holding off the Owls for a 69-63 victory despite a monster 31-point performance from Spencer Rodgers.

ABDUR-RAHIM QUOTES:
On tonight's game…
"Tonight was a tough game for our young group. I thought we played 34 minutes of really good basketball. The first six minutes of the second half I thought our youth showed. We didn't have the same focus on the defensive end to start the half and a team like Liberty will make you pay. We have to rest up, regroup and make adjustments for tomorrow's game."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was a slow start for both squads as neither team could find the bottom of the net in the opening five minutes. Chris Youngblood finally broke the drought with three points the hard way to give KSU a 3-0 lead at the 14:39 mark. Youngblood's bucket sparked life into the Owls as KSU ripped off a 12-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Spencer Rodgers.

The Flames eventually woke up, responding with a 7-0 run, but a three-pointer from Brandon Stroud put a halt to the Flames' run to make it 15-7. The two teams proceeded to trade buckets before a quick 5-0 run pulled Liberty back within five, 22-17, with just over six minutes left in the half. The Flames continued to chip away at KSU's lead, eventually earning their first lead of the game with 44 seconds left in the half following another 5-0 run. Peterson recorded a put-back on the other end to retake the lead, but two free throws in the final seconds gave Liberty a slim 31-30 lead at the half.

After starting the game 0-for-10, the Owls finished the half shooting 50 percent from the floor as Rodgers led all scorers with 12 points in the period.

The script was flipped to open the second half as Liberty kept its momentum going opening the period on a 12-0 run to lead 43-30. Rodgers eventually ended the run with a jumper, following it up with a three-pointer. After trading shots, KSU finally pulled back within single-digits, 53-45, following a quick 8-2 run featuring three-pointers from Rodgers and Nate Springs as well as a jumper from Kasen Jennings at the 8:26 mark.

The Owls looked to continue to chip away at the lead, but the Flames answered with a 6-0 run to push the lead back to double-figures 61-48. Jennings kept the pressure on Liberty with back-to-back buckets before Rodgers put the team on his back recording nine of KSU's 11 points over the final minutes. Rodgers got the Owls to within four points, 67-63, but KSU's comeback simply ran out of time as Liberty was able to hang on and record the 69-63 victory.

NOTES
- Spencer Rodgers' 31 points is the most points scored by a player in Liberty Arena. It was also five points shy of tying the KSU DI single-game record.
- Rodgers has scored 20 or more points five times now this season. With four three-pointers against the Flames, Rodgers has now netted four or more treys in four games.
- KSU held Liberty to four three-pointers after the Flames entered the game averaging 11.7 per game.
- Kasen Jennings hit double-figures for the third time in his career, tying his career-high.
- Brandon Stroud's eight rebounds marked the fifth time in the last six games he's finished with seven or more boards.
 
UP NEXT
The Owls are right back at it tomorrow evening, taking on Liberty in game two Saturday 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.