The KSU men’s basketball team failed to end their losing streak Thursday against North Florida. The game came down to the wire, but turnovers proved costly, as the Owls fell 60-52 in front an enthusiastic home crowd.
“I knew the fraternities and sororities were going to come with energy and passion, but I did not know they were going come with that much energy and passion,” said KSU head coach Lewis Preston regarding the fan atmosphere. “I think it’s one of the best atmospheres I have ever been in since I have been a head coach here. I really want to thank them for coming out.”
The Owls started off fast offensively, grabbing a 9-0 lead. As the game continued in the first half, it was a turnover contest. North Florida and KSU had a combined total of 19 turnovers. Drenched with sweat and overcome with intense emotion, the Owls lost their lead. The first half ended with KSU trailing North Florida 22-29.
“At half time I discussed that we needed to stop turning the ball over, we had 11 turnovers at half. So once we took care of the ball. Now it comes down to the simple point, can you make a shot? At the end of the day that’s what the game comes down to,” Preston said.
Entering the second half, momentum began to build in the Owls’ favor when Delbert Love made a jump shot from outside the key. Calm and collected, the sophomore focused in and sent the basketball through the net without hesitation. Fat heads of senior Markeith Cummings sliced the air back and forth as students waived them overhanging the court. Cummings was a man of steel offensively, but defensively he couldn’t get the job done.
Cummings did not start for the game because of his recent performance on defense. Using his quick agility he was able to drive through defenses, and fly vertically with jump shots outside the key. Cummings put up 7 field goals and two 3-point field goals, adding 17 points to the scoreboard on his own. Defensively Cummings struggled, as he only had two rebounds during the game.
“The 17 points he scored is one thing but he played 30 minutes and only had 2 rebounds,” Preston said of his senior. “My thing is I need him to get on the glass more. I think he is the most physically talented player in this league, but there has to be a consistency of effort each and every day, but with that being said I am happy with the way he came out tonight I thought he came out and was aggressive.”
Cummings hit a layup at the tail end of the game keeping the Owls in range of a possible victory. The score was 50-56 in favor of North Florida with 37 seconds left to play.
Despite the Owls perseverance, all hopes of victory turned sour. Chances of making the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament continued to deteriorate.
The Owl’s Achilles Heel was their ability to stop screens. North Florida primarily set picks allowing them to blitz the ball down the key to the basket. The Owls repeatedly were left dumbfounded when North Florida starters exposed holes at the bottom of the post.
The final score of the game Thursday night was 52-60 declaring North Florida victorious. The game added another loss in the record books for KSU’s 2013 season.
“What this thing comes down to is one thing and one thing only and that’s you can’t beat anyone when you have 32 points in the paint. And then to top it all off when we get inside we are not able to be affective,” said Preston.
Despite the majority of players having disappointing performances, Nigel Pruitt and Jordan Montgomery played well. Preston commented on the outstanding performances of Pruitt and Montgomery during the game Thursday night and how the losing season is affecting them.
“Well I think some of it is they are just starting to mature in front of your eyes. Unfortunately there aren’t many sophomores and juniors right now. And you know, I think the thing with them is a lot of it comes down to them being men. I told a lot of these guys that their trial would be through fire and were going through hell right now,” Preston said.
Fighting through criticism of their downward season, the team’s goal after Thursday was to learn from their mistakes and become better from them. This past Saturday, the team showed that they could do that, proving that their season is not over yet. The Owls defeated the Jacksonville Dolphins 75-68 with the life of the team depending on the outcome of the game.
The team still has a long road from birthing a spot in the A-Sun Conference Tournament but they are able to continue to fight for their survival, which is an accomplished goal on its own.
