By: Mark Wasik
Thursday, January 9
7:30 p.m. (ET) – Kennesaw State (9-5, 1-0 CUSA) at Middle Tennessee (10-5, 1-1 CUSA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Murphy Center (11,520)
TV: ESPN+ (Jake Rose, Jillian Jelnick)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
Game Notes: KSU Notes | MTSU Notes
Follow KSU Men's Basketball - X | Instagram
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State men's basketball, coming off a win in its' first-ever Conference USA game with Saturday's 83-71 home victory over Jacksonville State, will now take to the road for the first time in their new league with this week's trip to Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro for a Thursday night contest. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
A FEW NOTES
♦ While this will be the sixth meeting between the two schools all-time (all won by MTSU), all six of the prior meetings came during Kennesaw State's years as a NAIA and Division II program. The Owls did not move up to Division I play until 2005-06.
♦ KSU is 7-0 at home this year, and through its first 14 games, the Owls are 8-0 in the state of Georgia, 1-2 in Canada, and 0-3 in California.
♦ A huge difference for Kennesaw State this year is its work on the defensive side. A year ago, the Owls ranked 186th in field goal percentage defense at 186th and 263rd in three-point percentage defense. After the first 14 games in 2024-25, KSU has made a complete turnaround, ranking 53rd in the nation in field goal defense at 40.3%, which is also fourth in Conference USA. KSU is also 30th in the NCAA in three-point field goal defense, allowing its opponents to hit just 28.8% of its attempts from three-point range.
♦ KSU has been pounding the boards this season, as the Owls currently rank sixth in the nation in rebounding at 43.5 per game, which paces Conference USA. They are also 22nd in rebound margin at +7.9, second-best in the league.
