KSU at Eastern Kentucky Box Score (PDF)

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RICHMOND, Ky. – After going four years without playing in an overtime contest, Kennesaw State men's basketball more than made up for it Thursday night, playing in a thrilling, roller-coaster three-overtime battle at Eastern Kentucky that saw the home team escape with an 82-81 win thanks to a late whistle and free throw. KSU dropped to 9-13 overall, 4-5 in ASUN Conference play.
 
This was the first overtime game for KSU since a road loss at Gardner-Webb on Dec. 13, 2018, and the first triple overtime contest since a 99-92 loss at Jacksonville on Jan. 10, 2013. The Owls fell to 0-12 all-time in overtime games in its Division I history.
 
It was a back and forth battle all night long, with 17 total lead changes and eight ties. The Owls nearly won the game in regulation when Terrell Burden was fouled with 3.8 seconds left but made just one-of-two at the line to force overtime at 60-60.
 
KSU trailed by four in the first overtime but rallied to tie the game, and Brandon Stroud's layup with 31 seconds left would knot the score at 68-68, sending to the game to a second overtime. This time, the Owls jumped out to a four-point edge before EKU sank a pair of free throws with a minute left to again tie the game. KSU had three chances to win on a final shot but both offensive putbacks were too strong, sending it to a third extra period.
 
The Owls fell into a hole at start of the next overtime as a four-point play and a three-pointer put EKU up by seven. Back-to-back steals gave KSU five quick points, and two free throws from Stroud with 32 seconds left tied the game again at 81-81. EKU then held for the final shot. Jomaru Brown took a long two-point shot from the right corner, and Chris Youngblood played tight defense but was called for a foul on the fade-away attempt, sending Brown to the line. He missed the first but sank the second for a one-point edge. KSU got a contested pass to midcourt but had to force up a last second shot that was off.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: KSU finished 6-of-14 at the free throw line, including just 2-of-6 in the third overtime period. The Colonels meanwhile were 11-of-16, and 4-of-5 in the three overtime periods combined.
 
FIRST HALF: EKU opened up a 23-14 lead with 4:50 to go in the opening 20 minutes. The Owls then exploded on a 17-4 run to end the half. Youngblood hit two three-pointers during the run while Spencer Rodgers capped it with a trey of his own to put KSU up 31-27 at the break.
 
SECOND HALF: An 8-3 run to open the half put EKU back ahead, and the momentum would go back and forth the rest of the way. The Owls held a 53-47 edge thanks to another Youngblood trey, before a 7-0 spurt brought the home team back into the contest. EKU went ahead 60-59 on a layup with 45 seconds left, while KSU missed three shots on the other end. The Colonels rebounded the ball, were fouled, but missed the front end of the one-and-one with 10 seconds on the clock. The Owls got the ball and Burden drove down the lane with time winding down, drawing a foul to reach the free throw line where he sank his game-tying free throw with 1.8 seconds to play.
 
OWL OF THE GAME: Stroud finished with his second double-double of the season with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, along with two steals.
 
QUOTEABLE:
"I couldn't be more proud of our guys, staff, and program after tonight's game. We came into a great environment against a good team, a well-coached team by Coach Hamilton, and emptied our tanks. We're still in the process of learning how to win on the road with a young team. The free throw line bit us tonight but there isn't a doubt in my mind we will be better from there. But man, what a fun game to compete in, give me this team every day of the week. I have such big love for them and how they competed and are still growing."– Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim      
 
NOTES
-Youngblood led the Owls in scoring with his fourth career 20+ point game with 20, while he set a new career-high with six three-pointers. He also added eight rebounds and a career-high tying three blocks.
- Alex Peterson was one point off his career-high with 14 on 6-of-6 shooting. Rodgers was also in double-figures with 10. Demond Robinson added a game-high 11 rebounds, and Burden finished with a career-high 12 assists.
- KSU shot 41.8% (33-of-79) for the game and was 9-of-28 (32.1%) from three-point range.
- The Owls held a 51-38 edge on the boards, and the 51 rebounds tied for the third most in a game in KSU's Division I history.
 
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls have a very short turnaround, as they made the trip to Louisville, Ky., after the game to prepare for Saturday's 7 p.m. contest at Bellarmine.
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