Basketball season has arrived as the Kennesaw State men’s and women’s teams won their exhibition games on Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Convocation Center.
Sophomore Alexis Poole led the way with 24 points as the women’s team defeated Thomas University 80-61. The Ellenwood, Georgia native shot 10-for-16 from the field and helped the Owls build their lead from the inside as they scored half of their points from the paint.
Last year’s Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year Kamiyah Street contributed 17 points, six assists and five rebounds.
After trailing by one point at halftime, the Owls went on a 33-8 run to establish a lead that would last. They also forced 32 turnovers from the Nighthawks.
“I thought the starters came out and were really prepared to play,” head coach Agnus Berenato said. “Anytime you start two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior, they’re going to be anxious.”
Later that night, the men’s team triumphed 81-78 over Clayton State.
Redshirt junior Tyler Hooker went off for 36 points while shooting 55 percent from the field, including a game-winning three-point shot
Early in the game, the Owls built their lead to as high as 12 points, thanks to freshman CJ Washington who led the team in shot efficiency and assists. He showed aggression offensively and drew fouls several times to help the team score.
The Lakers came back to pull within one point before eventually retaking the lead before a layup from senior Kosta Jankovic and a jump shot from Hooker sent the Owls into the locker room up 32-29 at halftime.
To start the second half, a three-point shot from Hooker and a layup from junior transfer Bobby Parker gave KSU an early lead at 46-42.
The two teams proceeded to trade the lead until the Lakers gained their largest lead of the half at 66-61. Poor defense from the Owls during the middle of the second half allowed Clayton State to stay in front before KSU head coach Al Skinner called a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Jankovic came up with consecutive layups while Washington pulled KSU within one point. With less than a minute to play, the Lakers went to the free throw line, missing the first free throw before making the second.
With 21 seconds on the clock, the Owls took a timeout before Skinner drew up a play in which Washington found Hooker after a pick was set by Isaac Mbuyamba. Hooker nailed a three-pointer and put KSU ahead, 79-78.
Clayton State attempted to pull off a last-second shot of their own, but the Owls defense held them down by forcing a turnover. Mbuyamba took the ball and launched it to Hooker, who sealed the game with a dunk.
“This is a learning tool for us. We are going to take a lot out of this game,” said assistant coach Carlton Owens. “Down the stretch, the last two minutes, we kept our composure, we didn’t panic, kept running our offense and that helped us prepare to get the win, but it was nerve-wracking.”
The Owls officially begin the 2018-19 season next Wednesday, Nov. 7, as the women’s team faces Middle Georgia State at 5:30 p.m. before the men host Oglethorpe for their season opener at 7:30 p.m.
