An off-target buzzer-beater cost Kennesaw State men’s basketball team a win as they fell to the University of North Florida Ospreys by a score of 72-74.
Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said that the team came out with “poor energy” in the first half. He was disappointed because this was not their “brand of basketball.”
Abdur-Rahim went on to say that North Florida is a good team with energy that his Owls did not match, which was needed to win the game.
Demond Robinson led the team with 13 total points while also having six rebounds and a steal. Chris Youngblood and Terrell Burden combined for 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks.
Brandon Stroud came alive in the second half after not scoring at all in the first half. He scored a total of 12 points and grabbed 14 of his 17 total rebounds in the second half, giving the Owls the best chance of winning this game.
KSU got the shot they were looking for following a deflected pass on their side of the court, but could not capitalize. Despite the missed shot, the Owls fought their way back into this game after being down by 17 in the first half.
KSU kept the game close until UNF went on a 13-1 run to take a decisive lead, going into the half up 10 on the Owls.
KSU came out in the second half on a mission to come back into this game. Early on in the third quarter, the Owls went on an 11-2 run to take the lead for the first time since early in the first half of the game. This momentum gave KSU the chance they had been looking for the whole game.
KSU tied the game late, but UNF made four late free throws that secured the win.
With this loss, the Owls drop to 11-14 on the season and 6-6 in the ASUN Conference. The men will travel to Fort Meyers, Florida to face the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles.
