#3 Darius Washington III dribbles the ball up the court. Photo by: Jackson Louneoubonh
Kennesaw State men’s basketball defeated Florida A&M 92-72, setting a tone for the rest of the season with a road victory.
The Owls started the game off fast and took control in the first half, keeping the same pace in the second half to win 92-72.
KSU made 57.1% of its shots from the field and 40% of its shots from beyond the 3-point line.
Senior guard RJ Johnson led the way with 16 points, consistently getting to the basket and converting midrange shots.
In 20 minutes, forward Frankquon Sherman scored 15 points, finishing strong at the rim.
Sherman was also a reliable presence on defense, finishing with three steals.
Guard Simeon Cottle scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds, while forward Ramone Seals scored 12 points and grabbed seven boards.
Freshman Trey Simpson added 10 points, including two three-pointers that gave the Owls the momentum back in the second half .
KSU’s depth stood out on Saturday, with 13 players seeing the court — 10 of whom played significant minutes and scored.
On defense, KSU fought every look. FAMU converted just 22-of-67 shots from the floor and 4-of-19 from beyond the three point line, making it hard for the Rattlers to get into a flow. The Owls also scored points on fast breaks, applying pressure to make players take quick shots and make plays in transition.
A key run in the first half created separation for the Owls.
KSU took the lead with a 9-0 run which included with a dunk from Sherman, free throws from Seals, and a clutch three-pointer from Cottle, helping them to a 48-34 halftime lead.
Early in the second half, FAMU closed the gap for a short time, but the Owls settled down, moving the ball and adjusting pace when needed.
The Owls will have to work hard to keep up this level of speed and energy as the season goes on — but have now improved to 2-0 to start the regular season.
Men’s basketball is set to take the court next on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at home against Point University .
