With an 18-7 overall record, the Owls were able to get back on track after their 8-game winning streak was snapped at the hands of Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 4.
On Thursday, Feb. 9, the Owls traveled out west to take on Jacksonville State in the first game of a home-and-home series against the Gamecocks.
Although the Owls struggled mightily on the offensive side in the first half, they were able to keep the game within striking distance, going into the locker room trailing 26-20.
“Jacksonville State did a really good job of throwing a 1-3-1 zone at us, that they haven’t shown this year.” Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said. “And that’s just part of really good coaching by Jax State and Coach Harper.”
“They did really good job of throwing that out there and we just had some shots that didn’t go in,” Coach Abdur-Rahim said when asked postgame about the team’s first-half shooting struggles. “If you told me we went 2-of-19 from three in the first half and I would say you were crazy. Part of it was a strategy by them and part of it we just didn’t make shots we normally do.”
The Owls roared back in the second half, largely in part to 11 points on 4-5 shooting from Senior Guard Spencer Rodgers.
After trailing by as many as 10, the Gamecocks caught fire from 3-point range and brought the game to a 52-52 tie with under a minute remaining.
With everyone in the arena on their feet, Senior Forward Demond Robinson got the benefit of the roll on a two-foot shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Owls.
“We said we wanted the absolute last shot, if we miss it we go into overtime and take our chances. But we got the absolute last shot and executed well.” Coach Abdur-Rahim said postgame.
Saturday, Feb. 11, KSU returned home to the Convocation Center for the second showcase with JSU.
After another lackluster performance that had the Owls trailing 36-30 going into halftime, Senior Guard Terrell Burden delivered 17 second-half points that were enough to propel the Owls to a 74-71 victory, their 20th of the season.
“Anytime as a coach you have an opportunity to win 20 games, it’s special. The regular season is unbelievably hard, it tests you, it challenges you. To be able to sit here and be able to say we won 20 games for the first time in school history, it’s special.” Coach Abdur-Rahim expressed after hitting 20 wins.
“Really excited for President Schwaig and our administration, because these are people that have poured their heart and soul into this university and to be to give back means the world to me.” Coach Abdur-Rahim said after reaching the mark for the first time as a head coach.
The Owls return to play on Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Convocation Center at 7:00 p.m. versus the Liberty Flames, in a game that will likely determine home-court advantage in the ASUN tournament.
