KSU vs Queens Box Score (PDF) | KSU Postgame Press Conference
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Senior
Terrell Burden scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the final 11 minutes, rallying Kennesaw State from a 13-point deficit to a thrilling 80-77 victory over Queens in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. With their ninth straight home victory, KSU improved to 10-5 overall, while the Royals dropped to 6-10.
STAT OF THE GAME: KSU could not be colder to start the second half, as the Owls missed 15 of their first 16 shots from the floor, while the Royals took advantage to grab a 13-point lead. Queens still held a seven-point edge, 59-52 with under nine minutes to play, when the Owls came up with an offensive rebound and
Simeon Cottle scored on a layup. The Owls would not miss again from the field, as that started a run of 11 straight made field goals for KSU in the come-back victory.
OWL OF THE GAME: Burden has made a history of huge second-halves to rally the Owls to a victory, and Saturday was no different. In addition to his career-high output, with the Owls trailing 73-71 with four minutes to play, Burden had a hand in the next nine points for KSU, scoring six of them while assisting on a huge three-pointer by Cottle. He finished the night 11-of-19 from the floor, a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, along with six assists and three blocks.
THE FIRST HALF: The first half was a game of runs. First KSU used a 14-2 spurt to go up 14-7 on a Burden jumper. A 10-0 run by the Royals would give Queens a 25-19 edge, and the Royals used another 6-0 spurt for their largest lead of the half, 34-26 with 3:18 to play. KSU then stood up on defense, ending the half on a 12-0 spurt. A pair of free throws from
Demond Robinson gave the Owls a 38-34 lead going into the break.
THE SECOND HALF: While KSU was struggling to find a basket, Queens took advantage, going on a 20-3 spurt for its largest lead of the game at 54-41 at the 11:52 mark. Burden sparked six unanswered points for KSU to close the margin to 57-52, before Queens answered back on the other end. The team traded baskets again until a 9-2 run tied the game on a Burden layup with 6:28 on the clock. The game was tied twice more, at 71-71 and 73-73. Burden then drew an offensive foul on the other end, and found Cottle for a three-pointer that would give KSU the lead for good with 2:43 to play. KSU went up 80-75 with 30 seconds to go, before Queens scored on a dunk, and then forced a turnover on the inbounds play for one more chance to tie the game with 19 seconds left. KSU would not allow any clean looks however, as the best the Royals could put up was a desperation shot at the buzzer that didn't reach the rim.
NOTES
-Cottle joined Burden in double-figures with 20 points, while Robinson finished with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
-KSU shot 43.5% from the floor and were just 8-of-26 at the free throw line, but did make 12-of-17 for 70.6% at the free throw line, above the team's season average.
-KSU finished with just two less turnovers (14-16), but held a crucial edge in points off turnovers at 19-8.
-The 13-point deficit was the largest the Owls have overcome for a victory since trailing Liberty by 14 in the second half on Feb. 16, 2023 in an eventual 88-81 victory.
-KSU is now 3-1 all-time against Queens, with the last two games having come down to the final seconds.
-The Owls have won 23 of their last 24 games in the Convocation Center.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls continue their three-game homestand to start the conference season when they host Stetson on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
