KSU vs FGCU Box Score (PDF) | KSU Postgame Press Conference
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KENNESAW, Ga. – For the third time this season Kennesaw State won a game at the buzzer, as senior guard
Terrell Burden came up with a steal with six seconds left, drove down to the deep left corner, and buried a step-back three-pointer at the horn to give the Owls a thrilling 78-75 victory over FGCU in Atlantic Sun Conference action Friday night at the Convocation Center. The Owls remained undefeated in league play at 3-0 for just the second time in program history, and moved to 12-5 for the season with their 11
th-straight home victory.
THE FINAL THREE MINUTES: KSU looked to be in control with a five-point edge with just under three minutes left thanks to a layup from
Simeon Cottle. The Owls would miss shots on their next three possessions however, while FGCU reeled off eight straight to go up 75-72 with 26 seconds left. Burden was knocked down on the other end while attempting to drive for a layup, giving him two free throws. He missed both, but
Demond Robinson rebounded the ball and found Cottle on the outside. Cottle was fouled attempting a three-pointer, and made all three free throws to knot the score at 75-75 with 16 seconds on the clock. FGCU called a timeout and set up a play, but their entry pass was stolen by Burden, leading to his game-winner.
STAT OF THE GAME: FGCU finished with just two more turnovers then the Owls (13-11), but KSU made the visitors pay for their mistakes with an 18-6 advantage on points off turnovers. That included the game-winning trey.
OWL OF THE GAME: After attempting only one shot in the first half, Burden was unstoppable in the second half, scoring all 20 of his points after halftime while going 7-of-7 from the floor, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. He also added a team-high six assists to go along with two steals.
THE FIRST HALF: KSU trailed almost the entire half, as FGCU opened the game on a 7-0 run. The Owls would rally to close within one several times, thanks to the play of Robinson who scored a team-high 11 points in the opening stanza. After the Eagles went up 28-24, KSU held them scoreless for the next four minutes. A three-pointer from
Quincy Ademokoya and a pair of Robinson free throws gave KSU its first lead of the game, 29-28 with 1:18 to play, before FGCU ended the half with a three-pointer for a two-point advantage.
THE SECOND HALF: A three-pointer from Jusuan Holt sparked a 7-0 spurt from KSU to put the home team up 36-31. The game turned into a series of runs from both teams following that, as the lead would change hands eight times over the final 16 minutes of the contest. A 12-2 spurt from the Eagles gave them a 46-40 lead with 13:13 on the clock, while the Owls used a 13-4 run for a four-point lead of their own at 61-57 at the 6:44 mark. KSU kept the lead for the next six minutes, until FGCU appeared to have the game in hand with its late 8-0 run, before Burden's heroics saved the game.
NOTES
-Robinson and Cottle both finished with 19 points each to also finish in double-figures for KSU, while Cottle added a career-high eight rebounds. Holt led KSU in rebounding with nine.
-KSU shot 45.8% (27-of-59) for the game, including 53.3% (16-of-30) in the second half. The Owls were 17-of-24 at the line (70.8%), but just 25% (7-of-28) from three-point range.
-KSU improved to 4-1 in games decided by three points or less. The previous games won at the buzzer for the Owls included a 79-77 win over Northeastern (Nov. 20), and a 79-76 win over UNC Asheville in overtime (Dec. 5).
-The Owls have won 25 of their last 26 games in the Convocation Center. KSU's 11-game home win streak is currently tied for the 14
th-longest active streak in the nation.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls are on the road for the first time in conference play, as KSU will take a trip to the River City to face North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 pm. That will be followed by a Saturday, Jan. 20 contest at Jacksonville at 2 p.m.
