Box Score
Postgame Press Conference Videos – Andre Weir | Simeon Cottle | Antoine Pettway
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Simeon Cottle scored 25 points while freshman Adrian Wooley picked up a key steal and dunk in the final minute to help Kennesaw State claim its ninth straight win at home, 78-76 over preseason Conference USA favorite Louisiana Tech on Saturday night from the Convocation Center. The Owls improved to 11-7 on the year, 3-2 in league action while LA Tech dropped to 13-6, 2-4 in CUSA.
OWL OF THE GAME: Senior Andre Weir posted his best game as an Owl, finishing with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting while adding seven rebounds and a season-high five blocks. More importantly, he guarded Bulldog star Daniel Batcho for the majority of the game, and limited the nation's leader in field goal percentage to 7-of-13 shooting while also outrebounding the preseason player of the year selection.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Owls shot 62.5% in the second half, connecting on 15-of-24 shooting from the floor, and were above 70% for a good portion of the final 20 minutes. KSU would finish hitting 49.1% (28-of-57) for the game, while LA Tech was 26-62 for 41.9%.
THE FIRST HALF: It was a defensive battle in the opening stanza. The Owls shot 39.4% and held the visiting Bulldogs to just 29%, but LA Tech made 9-of-11 from the line to remain close. The Bulldogs scored two of the first three baskets of the game, going up 4-2 on a layup one minute into the game. That was also the last lead of the night for LA Tech, as Wooley and Cottle hit back-to-back treys for an 8-4 KSU lead. Though the lead grew as high as seven, 22-15 on a Weir jumper, the margin was a single possession for the majority of the half, while Weir scored with two seconds left to put KSU up 33-30 going into halftime.
THE SECOND HALF: Freshman Braedan Lue took over in the second half. He converted a three-point play, drained a jumper and added a three-point field goal for a personal 8-2 run to open the half that put the Owls up 41-32. KSU led by as much as 10, 62-52, and it was a seven-point lead at 72-65 with 2:22 on the clock thanks to a free throw from Wooley. LA Tech made its run, as six unanswered cut the edge to just 72-71 with 1:34 on the clock. Wooley would hit a pair of free throws on the other end for a three-point lead, and then he stole the ball at midcourt and raced in for a dunk to put the Owls up 76-71. It was a 78-73 lead when LA Tech scored with eight seconds left, then stole the inbounds pass for one last chance at a tying basket. Their three-point attempt was off the mark, giving KSU the conference victory.
NOTES
- Cottle brought out of a recent shooting slump with a 10-of-15 performance from the field. That included 3-of-6 from three-point range, and a perfect 2-of-2 at the line.
- Lue finished the game with 19 points to go along with five rebounds. Wooley was also in double-figures with 13 points and a team-high four assists.
- The Owls turned the ball over just eight times, and held an 18-9 edge on points off turnovers.
- This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
- The nine-game home win streak is tied for the 23rd-longest active streak in the nation.
NEXT TIME OUT: The Owls are off to the Land of Enchantment as KSU will take on New Mexico State in Las Cruces on Thursday, Jan. 23 in a 9 p.m. (ET) contest that will be streamed live on ESPN+.
