The men’s basketball team ended its 2011-2012 season with a, 74-72, loss to Lipscomb last Saturday as a Markeith Cummings three went in-and-out in the final seconds of the game. Despite leading by seven at halftime and leading by one with 10:32 to play in the second half, the Owls could not hold on as they allowed the Bison to shoot a field goal percentage of 56.7 percent in the second half. “I want to tip my hat to Lipscomb, because to be honest they didn’t play with any energy in the first 20 minutes,” said head coach Lewis Preston. “I thought our guys started out playing like they had nothing to lose but they reverted to things that are not customary to the team game, but as we move forward I’m excited about the future of this program.”
Departing seniors Spencer Dixon, Brandon Sewell, and Romain Henry were all presented with their own framed jerseys before the game started, commemorating their service to the Black and Gold in front of a crowd of over one thousand fans. “I know it’s over with and I wanted to go out with a win, but I love my teammates and I know the program is heading in the right direction,” said an emotional Spencer Dixon. “I’m going to leave with that, knowing that I helped the program go in the right direction, increased number of wins, increased number of fans, I’m able to say I was a part of KSU and I’m proud of that.”
Dixon played his final game about as well as any other, leading his team with 21 points, leading all players with six assists and finishing one rebound short of the lead despite being one of the shortest players on the floor. Dixon set a new career games played record for the Owls in his 124th and final game, finishing 7th on the Owls all time scoring list with 1,329 points.
Senior Romain Henry finished his final game coming off the bench with eight points, one rebound and two assists. “Coming to Kennesaw State was my biggest stepping stone, being in this environment, being around these people,” said Henry. “With (former Owl coach) Ingle I learned a lot, as far as having character and being a man, being a role model.
I learned a whole lot from our (current) coaching staff, about working hard and what it is to be accountable. My journey was tough and I feel like it will help me in the future, I’m proud to say, like Spencer said, that I’m a Kennesaw State Alumni.”
The Owls’ loss was a tough one to swallow. With the defeat, KSU finished with an 0-18 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
