#2 Trey Simpson dunks basketball in game against Florida International on Jan. 14 at VyStar Arena. Photo by Jackson Louneounbonh
Career-highs from RJ Johnson and Trey Simpson lifted Kennesaw State men’s basketball in a come-from-behind 89-86 win over Florida International on Wednesday at VyStar Arena.
The Owls found themselves down by as many as 13 points in the second half, but rallied late.
“During the huddle, coach [Antoine Pettway] asked the whole team ‘do you all believe that we can come back and win this game?’,” Simpson said. “Everybody said yes and dialed in and came back as a good team,” Simpson said.
Simpson posted the most impressive line of his young college career, finishing with a game-high 28 points and tying the program’s three-pointers made record with eight on 16 attempts.
Johnson, who has been through his fair share of ups and downs on and off the court during his time as an Owl, seemed to put together the pieces to be the player he was advertised to be as the No. 1 ranked player out of the state of Alabama in 2023 on Wednesday night.
The redshirt sophomore finished with a career-high 26 points in 31 minutes on 9-of-12 shooting, including a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to cut the Owls’ deficit to 84-81 and a layup to give KSU the lead for the first time in the second half.
“I feel like tonight came from, just the belief in my teammates and the work that I put in,” Johnson said. “And, just trusting God with everything that’s happened this season, and last season with me not being able to play. I feel like it has been a long time coming for this.”
After Johnson’s layup gave the Owls the advantage, both teams traded possessions before Simeon Cottle came up with a timely steal and was fouled with 16.5 seconds remaining in the contest.
The senior guard converted both free throws, pushing the Owls’ lead to 89-86, giving FIU a likely final opportunity.
Panthers guard Zawdie Jackson was far off the mark from three while looking to draw contact, and the ball bounced out of bounds with 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock, returning possession to the Owls.
KSU inbounded the ball to Braedan Lue near the halfcourt line, who proceeded to dunk the ball as time expired, securing an 89-86 win for the Owls their third straight.
Following an 0-3 start to Conference USA play, KSU now finds itself at 3-3 tied for fifth in the league.
“It just lets you know to keep going,” KSU coach Antoine Pettway said. “I told them, [when] we went through our three-game losing streak on the road, I’m not changing and I’m doubling down on who we are as a program. We’re going to work even harder, we’re going to coach even harder. So take coaching and get in the gym even more. And all they’ve done is respond.”
Junior forward Frankquon Sherman finished the evening with a career-high 16 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end.
“[Sherman] is the glue,” Pettway said. “Whatever we need to win the game, that’s what Frankquon Sherman does.”
