Postgame Interview KSU Coach Pettway | Postgame Interview Quincy Ademokoya | KSU vs Georgia State Box Score (PDF)
Follow KSU Men's Basketball - X | Instagram
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State men's basketball took control midway through the first half thanks to a 17-0 run, and led by at least double-digits for all but 28 seconds the rest of the afternoon as the Owls took down Georgia State 88-77 in the first meeting between the metro Atlanta schools in 34 years. With their first-ever win over the Panthers, the Owls moved to 5-3 on the season in front of a school-record tying sold out crowd of 3,805 in the Convocation Center.
ROCK SOLID PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sophomore guard
Simeon Cottle, a College Park native, continued his hot start to the season with a career-high 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He also added four assists and two steals in the victory.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls shot a season-high 51.7% from the floor, connecting on 31-of-60). That included a below average performance from behind the arc (6-of-22 for 27.3%). Georgia State meanwhile was limited to just 40.3% (27-of-67) for the game, the lowest by an Owl Division I opponent this season.
THE FIRST HALF: There was no slow start to the KSU offense, as the Owls scored on their first three possessions to open up a 6-0 edge just 90 seconds into the game. Georgia State did keep it close in the opening five minutes, closing within two twice, the last at 10-8 with 14:57 on the clock.
Terrell Burden answered on the other end with a three-pointer, the start of 17 straight points for KSU over the next six and a half minutes. Six different Owls scored during the run, which was capped by a
Frankquon Sherman layup for a 27-8 edge with 8:02 to play in the half. GSU did make a slight run to cut the edge down to 11 entering halftime. KSU finished the opening 20 minutes shooting 54.8% (17-31), while the Panthers were limited to 36.7% (11-30).
THE SECOND HALF: Georgia State opened with a pull-up jumper to cut the lead to nine 24 seconds into the second half. The Owls quickly responded, scoring five straight off a
Quincy Ademokoya trey and a Cottle layup to go back up 14, and the Panthers did not come within single digits again until the final minute. KSU would lead by as much as 21 in the game, the last coming at 7:34 on a
Demond Robinson jumper for a 72-51 advantage.
NOTES
-This was the first meeting between the two programs since Jan. 2, 1989, and the Panthers had won the previous three meetings.
-Ademokoya also posted new career-highs in both points (17) and rebounds (nine), missing his first career double-double by just one rebound. Also in double-figures was Robinson with 14.
-KSU held a 15-2 edge on points off turnovers, and 44-20 on points in the paint.
-The Owls have won six straight at home and are 20-1 in their last 21 games in the Convocation Center.
-KSU has won three straight against teams from the state of Georgia, as long as the win over Georgia State, the Owls took down Georgia Southern last month in the ECU Holiday Classic in North Carolina. Last season, KSU claimed a road victory at Mercer.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls will take on Big South favorite UNC Asheville in the first of a home-and-home this season on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
