KENNESAW, Ga. – Jacksonville University men's basketball jumped out to an early lead, but could not withstand a spirited effort by Kennesaw State, falling 76-68 on Monday evening.
 
The Dolphins (11-7, 3-3) dropped a third straight game, all on the road and over the course of the last week.
 
JU got off to a good start, scoring the first seven points to take a 7-0 lead into the first media timeout. Kennesaw State quickly responded, making two three pointers after the break, and the teams traded baskets until KSU took the lead for the first time with a turnaround jumper with 12:25 to play in the opening half.
 
Kevion Nolan buried a three-pointer to make it 14-12 Dolphins, but the Owls answered immediately with a three of their own to take the lead for good. The advantage grew to as many as 13, on a pair of free throws to with 4:27 left to make it 35-22.
 
The Dolphins were able to get the deficit to single-digits when Mike Marsh found Osayi Osifo for a slam as part of four straight points, and then Osifo made a hook shot to cut it to five, 40-35, with 10 seconds to play in the half. Kennesaw State drew up a play in the timeout and hit a corner three to end the half up by eight points.
 
The second half was full of JU cutting into the deficit on offense, just to see KSU hit big shots on the other end to keep the Dolphins at bay. The score stayed in the six- to eight-point range for almost the entirety of the half, until a furious late rally by JU. Down 67-59 with 3:34 left, Marsh hit a pair of free throws, then, after getting a defensive stop, Gyasi Powell sank a step-back three to get it to 67-64.
 
KSU made a tough shot in the paint with the shot clock winding down to push the advantage back to two possessions and JU never got that close again.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville returns home to host Lipscomb on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Swisher Gymnasium.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
 

• Mike Marsh set a new career-high, scoring 17 points
• Kevion Nolan recorded new career-bests in assists (9) and rebounds (6)
• Osayi Osifo went 6-7 from the field for 12 points, and added eight rebounds
• Jacksonville has now dropped three straight games, a season-long losing streak