Owls Set for Tennessee State
Black and Gold to face Tigers for first time
by Mark Toma
11/27/2009 2:09:43 AM
CHICAGO – Kennesaw State will continue its third leg of their nine-day, four game road trip as they play Tennessee State in the Chicago Invitational Challenge at the IUC Pavilion on Friday afternoon.
The Owls (2-2) will look to snap their two-game losing streak while Tennessee State (0-4) will look for its first win of the season after suffering losses to Northwestern and Iowa State in the first two games of the Chicago invitational Challenge.
The Black and Gold are coming off a loss to No. 23-ranked Notre Dame on Tuesday evening, but once again received strong performances from Markeith Cummings, Kurtis Woods and Jon-Michael Nickerson.
After playing Saint Louis and the Fighting Irish on campus, the tournament moves to downtown Chicago in a strict tournament format beginning on Friday with the Owls playing the Tigers at noon (CST) followed by Liberty and Mississippi Valley State at 2:30 p.m. The two winners of Friday’s games will play on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. while the 7th place game begins at 11:30 a.m. as the tournament concludes.
Friday’s game is the first-ever meeting between Kennesaw State and Tennessee State of the Ohio Valley Conference. The Tigers have suffered losses to Siena, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Iowa State. Tennessee State has three double-digit losses this season, but only lost to Northwestern by seven points last Sunday in Evanston, Ill.
Josh Sain and Jacquan Nobles are averaging in double figures with Sain at 12.8 ppg and Nobles averaging 10.3 points. The Tigers will be looking for the pair to add more fire-power as TSU is looking to score 70 points for the first time this season.
Kennesaw State will present a solid defense to counter Sain and Nobles. The Owls have been solid on perimeter defense and have done a tremendous job at limiting turnovers, including having just one by the backcourt against Notre Dame on Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s game in South bend, Ind. saw Woods and Cummings both score in double-figures for the first time since the Owls defeated North Greenville in the season opener at the KSU Convocation Center.
Friday’s game can be heard on tape delay on 920am WGKA beginning at 7:00 p.m. and it can also be heard on-line at www.920WGKA.com with Craig Corbin and Scott Webb carrying all the action. Saturday’s game against Liberty or Mississippi Valley State can be heard live on WGKA as well as on-line.