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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Kennesaw State gave top-seed Jacksonville State all it could handle in an exciting back and forth first half, but the Gamecocks' post play was the difference in the second half, carrying JSU to a 78-67 victory over the Owls in the quarterfinals of the 2022 ASUN Men's Basketball Tournament from Pete Mathews Coliseum Thursday night. KSU saw its season end with a 13-18 overall record, with the 13 wins more than doubling the combined win total of the previous two seasons. The Gamecocks meanwhile improved to 21-9 and advanced to Saturday's semifinals.
Facing a squad with one of the best collection of post players in the conference, the Owls did their damage in the first half from outside, knocking down six treys and going up 33-31 with under 10 seconds to play on a pair of
Terrell Burden free throws. However, the Owls fouled JSU on a three-point attempt with under a second left in the half, and the Gamecocks made all three to take a 34-33 edge into halftime.
JSU opened the second half with two straight baskets for a five-point advantage. KSU meanwhile had trouble finding points, connecting on just three shots in the first eight minutes after halftime. The hosts took advantage, as combined with the half-ending free throws, outscored the Owls 22-12 to take their first double-digit lead of the game at 56-46.
The Owls never stopped fighting, and a pair of treys from
Jamir Moultrie and
Isaiah Reddish brought KSU back within seven at 58-51. JSU extended the lead again until
Chris Youngblood's fifth three-ball of the night again made it a single-digit game at 70-61. The Owls then had two separate possessions where they could have closed within six but could not knock down the three, while the Gamecocks would seal the game with six unanswered.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls were outscored in the paint 42-18.
QUOTEABLE:
"Nothing but respect, hats off to Coach Harper and his staff, they do a great job of preparing their team. Unbelievably proud of our team. Proud not just for what they did tonight, but all year and how they were able to push our program further."-
Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
NOTES
- Youngblood led all scorers with 20 points, while Moultrie added 12 points off the bench to pace the Owls.
- KSU was held to 40% shooting (24-of-60) for the game while the Gamecocks made 52.9% (27-of-51) from the floor.
- The Owls did hit 14 three-point attempts in the contest, out of 33 attempts for 42.4%.
- KSU held the rebounding edge at the half but the Gamecocks reversed that in the second to win the battle of the boards 35-28.
- The Owls finished the season setting several new team single season records including:
- Scoring margin (+3.6)
- Field Goal Percentage (46.3%)
- Field Goal Percentage Defense (44.2%)
- 3-Point Field Goals Made (258)
