LYNCHBURG, Va. — In an exciting showdown on Sunday, Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle led his team to a thrilling 85-80 victory over Liberty, marking a significant conference win. Cottle was in top form, registering 24 points by shooting 9 of 16 overall and impressively hitting 4 of his 8 attempts from beyond the arc. He also added two points from three free throw attempts, contributing significantly to the Owls’ (17-13, 9-8 Conference USA) win.
Adrian Wooley was another standout performer for Kennesaw State, scoring 22 points and supporting his team with seven rebounds and six assists. Braedan Lue also made a notable impact by contributing 13 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the field, and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line.
For the Flames (23-6, 11-5), Owen Aquino was the leading scorer, ending the game with 16 points and six rebounds. Kaden Metheny also added 16 points, followed by Taelon Peter, who chipped in with 14 points. This defeat put an end to Liberty’s impressive six-game winning streak.
In the first half, Cottle racked up 12 points, yet Kennesaw State found themselves trailing with a score of 44-39 at halftime. However, Wooley’s vigorous 15-point contribution in the second half was pivotal in Kennesaw State securing the five-point margin victory.
This loss was a strategic blow for Liberty, as it propelled Jacksonville State (12-5) into the top spot in the conference rankings.
Looking ahead, Kennesaw State is set to face Jacksonville State away from home on Saturday, providing another opportunity to shake up the conference standings. Meanwhile, Liberty will be traveling to take on Middle Tennessee this Thursday and will conclude their regular season against Western Kentucky on Sunday.
