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MIAMI – Kennesaw State fell behind by 10 eight minutes into the contest and couldn't overcome a 38.4% shooting performance from the floor to pull off a rally as the Owls fell 91-84 at FIU in men's college basketball action Sunday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. In a matchup of future Conference USA rivals, KSU placed five players in double-figures for the second straight game and two Owls posted double-doubles but it wasn't enough to keep them from dropping to 4-3 on the season.
STAT OF THE GAME: FIU shot over 50% in both halves (57.1% in the first, 55.2% in the second), and finished 32-of-57 for 56.1%. The Owls meanwhile shot 37.8% in the first, 41.2% in the second, and also struggled at the line, making just 18-of-28 for 64.3%.
THE FIRST HALF: Shots were not falling for the Owls to start the game, as FIU opened up a 20-11 lead nine minutes into the game. KSU climbed back into the contest with a 12-4 spurt, with five points each coming from
Demond Robinson and
Simeon Cottle. The Owls could never take the lead in the opening half though, and the Panthers extended the lead to 11, 44-33 with 2:29 to play on a three-pointer. KSU then held the host team without a field goal the rest of the half, and scored seven of the final eight points to make it a 45-40 contest at the break.
THE SECOND HALF: A key turning point in the second half came after the Owls stole the ball at midcourt and dunked for two points but were then whistled for a technical for hanging on the rim. FIU took advantage of the ensuring free throws to start a 9-0 run, pushing its edge to 66-49 with 13:56 on the clock. KSU wouldn't give up easily though, slowly chipping away the lead over the next 12 minutes. A three-pointer from
RJ Johnson brought KSU within 87-81 with 1:17 to play, but the Owls could not get enough stops on the other end, eventually falling by seven points.
POSTGAME QUOTES
KSU HEAD COACH ANTOINE PETTWAY
"We got off to a bad start, we didn't come out with the right mentality. We weren't in attack mode, they were taking it to us, we weren't getting stops. I think once the second half, the last 12 minutes, we played out style of basketball, but we've got to do a better job of getting out and playing Kennesaw State basketball right from the start."
NOTES
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Simeon Cottle led the Owls with a career-high 20 points.
Quincy Ademokoya posted 13 and
Rongie Gordon added 11.
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Demond Robinson claimed his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Terrell Burden also notched a double-double, his first of the year and the second in his career with 13 points and 10 assists.
-KSU trailed at halftime for just the second time this season.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls will face Georgia State for the first time in over 30 years as they host the Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 pm in the Convocation Center.
