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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida's three-point attack was too much for Kennesaw State to overcome as the Owls dropped their first Atlantic Sun Conference game of the season, 84-75 on Thursday night at the UNF Arena. The loss dropped KSU to 12-6 overall, while both teams now stand at 3-1 in league play.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Ospreys outscored KSU by 15 from three-point range in the second half, as the home team made 8-of-17 (47.1%) while the Owls managed just three makes in 13 attempts for 23.1%. For the game, UNF shot 15-of-32 (46.9%), and KSU finished 9-of-25 (36.0%).
THE FIRST HALF: The Owls led just three times in the contest, the third off a Jusuan Holt trey for a 10-7 edge at the 17:34 mark of the first half. UNF then reeled off 14 straight points, nine off three-pointers, to go up 21-10 with 12:43 on the clock. The edge grew as high as 13 twice for UNF, the last at 2:51 to put the Ospreys up 38-25. The Owls then scored their explosive scoring abilitity, finishing the half with 10 quick points to go into the break down just 38-35. All 10 points during the run came from
Quincy Ademokoya and
Simeon Cottle.
THE SECOND HALF: The Owls could never get over the hump in the second 20 minutes, but refused to go away, keeping the game within 1-2 possessions for the majority of the first 14 minutes. A layup from Cottle made the score 71-67 with 6:07 to play, but the Owls were then held to just two points over the next three minutes. UNF took advantage of the scoring drought to extend the lead to ten before closing out the win.
NOTES
-Cottle led the Owls with his seventh 20+ point performance of the season, as he finished with 25 to go along with four steals.
-Also in double-figures was Ademokoya with 14 points, while
Jamel King and
RJ Johnson both finished with 10 each.
-The Owls finished 28-of-61 from the floor for 45.9%, and 10-of-13 at the line for 76.9%.
-KSU was outrebounded 35-29, but did finish with a +3 turnover margin and a 20-8 edge on points off turnovers.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls will not have far to go for their next game, as they will take on the Jacksonville Dolphins on Saturday in a 3 p.m game that will be streamed live on ESPN+.
