Postgame Press Conference | KSU vs UNC Asheville Box Score (PDF)
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State junior
Jamel King made a game-saving block in the final second of regulation to force overtime, while sophomore
Simeon Cottle nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime to give the Owls a thrilling 79-76 victory over UNC Asheville in men's college basketball action Tuesday night from the Convocation Center. With their seventh straight win at home, the Owls improved to 6-3 on the season, while the Big South preseason favorite Bulldog squad dropped to 5-4.
ROCK SOLID PLAYER OF THE GAME: King, playing a career-high 35 minutes, made a big impact defensively in the game, including on the most pivotal play of the night. The Owls had two chances to break a tie score in the final seconds of the second half, but came up short on both attempts, including a missed three-pointer by King with six seconds left. UNC Asheville came up with the rebound and found Drew Pember streaking towards the basket. Despite at least an eight-foot lead, King chased down Pember and pinned his layup attempt against the backboard at the second-half buzzer, sending the game into overtime and keeping the Owls alive. It was King's career-high third block of the game.
He then made a huge play at the end of the overtime period, as in the final seconds, the Bulldogs came up with a defensive rebound off a missed Owl trey. King stayed back to pressure the ball and forced a deflection that went off UNC Asheville out of bounds, giving the ball back to the Owls with 4.7 seconds left.
THE WINNING PLAY: On the inbounds play for KSU,
Terrell Burden found Cottle right in front of the KSU bench. The College Park native took two dribbles and before taking a highly contested shot that found nothing but the bottom of the net for the game-winner. It was Cottle's first trey of the night, after missing his first five from three-point range.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls forced 20 turnovers while committing just 10 themselves. That helped KSU to a crucial 22-12 edge on points off turnovers.
THE FIRST HALF: The Owls could not buy a bucket at the start, missing six of their first eight while falling behind early 15-7 to the Bulldogs. It was a five-point lead for UNC Ashville, 28-23 off a three-pointer with 5:34 left in the half. The Owls then clamped down on defense, not allowing another field goal the rest of the half. KSU would end the half on a 13-2 run, going up 36-30 at halftime thanks to a layup from
Demond Robinson.
THE SECOND HALF: KSU extended the lead to as high as 11 twice, and were up 54-44 with 10 minutes to play. The Bulldogs made a run, thanks to the play in the second half from Pember, who would finish the night with 27 points and 14 rebounds. A 14-5 run gave UNC Asheville its lone lead of the half at 65-64 with 1:42 to play, but Burden would tie the score at 65-65 after going 1-of-2 at the line with a minute on the clock.
OVERTIME: The Bulldogs held a two-point lead twice in the opening two minutes, but Cottle tied the score with a pair of free throws, and then Burden came up with a steal off Pember and scored on a layup for a two-point lead. After UNC Asheville tied the game,
Quincy Ademokoya drained his career-high fifth trey of the night to put KSU up three. The Owls were still up three when Pember was awarded three free throws following a foul with 34 seconds to play. He made all three to tie the game, setting the scene for the Cottle game-winner.
NOTES
-This is the third buzzer-beater the Owls have been involved in this season. KSU defeated Northeastern 79-77 on a last-second Robinson jumper on Nov. 20, before falling to a beyond half-court three-pointer at East Carolina in an 85-84 setback on Nov. 21.
-Ademokoya led the Owls in scoring with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while he was also 5-of-10 from three-point range.
-Also in double-figures was Robinson with 13, while Burden posted his second double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 assists.
-As a team, KSU shot 41.3% (31-75) from the floor and 32.3% (10-31) from three-point range. The Owls did struggle at the line, hitting a season-low 38.9% (7-18).
-The Owls are 21-1 in their last 22 games in the Convocation Center.
-KSU has won three straight overtime contests, dating back to the 2022-23 season.
-KSU has won five straight against teams currently in the Big South Conference after Tuesday's victory.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls, in the midst of three straight games against Big South competition, will make the trip up north to face USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., on Saturday in a 7 p.m. contest that will be streamed on ESPN+.
