Jan. 26, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Owls are riding high as they savor their last-second win over Belmont on Thursday night. Now, Kennesaw State has to do something it haven't done all season, win back-to-back games, as they host Nashville-based Lipscomb on Saturday evening at 7:30 at the KSU Convocation Center.

The Owls (4-15, 2-4 A-Sun) are playing better of late and Thursday night's win could be the taking-off point for the youthful squad as the meet the Bisons (8-12, 2-4 A-Sun) for the only time this season.

"We'd like to take the momentum we got from the Belmont game and carry through to Saturday and the rest of the season," said freshman point guard Kelvin McConnell, who hit the game-winner against Belmont. "But, Lipscomb is tough and we need to be ready to play hard for forty minutes."

While McConnell and fellow freshman Tanner Jacobs have made major contributions to the Owls recent success, it is the seniors of Kennesaw State who emerged together on Thursday as Ronell Wooten scored 30 points and Shuan Stegall was just one assist away from Kennesaw State's first-ever triple-double.

With a bit of confidence on its side, Kennesaw State has a short turnaround as Lipscomb visits campus. The Bisons and Owls have split four games during their two-year rivalry, with both teams winning two games on their home court. Lipscomb won the last meeting between the team last season in Nashville.

Kennesaw State has won two straight home games and is looking for its first two-game winning streak of the season. Lipscomb enters the game having split four of its last eight contests and are trying to snap a two-game losing streak.

"There is no easy game in this conference, ever," said Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle. "Lipscomb is very a talented team with an excellent starting five and a good, solid bench."

While the Bisons have one of the league's most talented players in former A-Sun Player of the Week, Eddie Ard, they have also relied heavily on production from four freshmen in Josh Slater, Jimmy Oden, Brandon Brown, and Adnan Hodzic.

The foursome have combined to account for 27 points per with Brown, the team's second leading scorer, leading the team in rebounding with 7.9 per game. Hodzic, Brown, and Slater have started the past three games.

The Owls are looking for Stegall and Wooten, who average a combined 29.5 points, to continue their solid play. In addition, the Owls are pleased with the play of seven-foot-one John Allison. The redshirt freshman from Edinburgh, Scotland has recently cracked the starting lineup and has been effect in the paint, both offensively and defensively, as he leads the Owls with 16 blocked shots.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with tonight being "Black Out Night." The first 500 fans will receive black T-Shirts and all fans are encouraged to wear black to tonight's contest. The game can be heard on SuperTalk 1230/1340 and can be seen on the web at ASun.TV.com.