Kennesaw State Basketball Upset: Owls’ Last-Second Buzzer Beater Stuns Conference Rivals

Kennesaw, Ga.—Kennesaw State basketball is surging as both the men’s and women’s programs make noise in Conference USA play, giving Owl Nation plenty to cheer about. Men’s team hosts Middle Tennessee tonight Head coach Antoine Pettway’s youthful lineup—remarkably the only starting five in C-USA without a senior or transfer—puts its 5.7 blocks per game (10th nationally) on display when the Owls welcome Middle Tennessee for a 5:30 p.m. tip on CBSSN. Sophomore rim protectors Braedan Lue and Trey Simpson have already combined for 62 rejections, anchoring a defense that holds opponents to just 39.6 percent shooting (20th in Division I). Offensively, guard RJ Johnson (12.9 ppg, 47.7 FG %) sparks transition chances that fuel KSU’s 10-1 home record. Keys to watch • Paint control: Middle Tennessee averages 28 three-point attempts, but the Blue Raiders are winless in Kennesaw. Contesting kick-outs while denying drives will be pivotal. • Pace: Pettway’s squad averages 72.4 possessions; forcing turnovers early (15.2 per game) could ignite the Convocation Center crowd. • Second-chance points: Freshman forward Miles Harris grabs 2.9 offensive boards nightly, a vital counter to MTSU’s small-ball looks. Women’s Owls claw past WKU On the heels of Thursday’s 55-51 road victory over Western Kentucky, coach Octavia Blue’s women improved to 12-11 (5-7 C-USA), riding a dominant 39-27 rebounding margin and 46.2 percent shooting. Junior forward Zaria Calhoun paced the Owls with 14 points, while graduate guard Tiana Carter’s three late steals sealed the first win in E.A. Diddle Arena since the programs joined the league. The triumph snapped a three-game skid and kept KSU within one game of sixth place, critical for seeding in next month’s C-USA Championship in Huntsville. What’s next • Men: After Middle Tennessee, the Owls travel to Marshall on Saturday before returning for a Feb. 19 showdown with Western Kentucky—another chance to bolster their NET top-100 résumé. • Women: KSU hosts Jacksonville State on Feb. 14 for the annual Pink Game, then embarks on a challenging two-game Texas swing. With postseason positioning on the line and a defense that ranks among the nation’s elite, Kennesaw State basketball is poised for a pivotal February stretch that could echo deep into March. Owl fans: keep the black and gold ready—this ride is just getting started.