HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Simeon Cottle equaled his career-high with a remarkable 32-point performance, leading Kennesaw State to a narrow 80-77 victory over New Mexico State in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night.
Cottle was in impressive form, shooting 8 for 12 from the field, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc, and was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, making 12 of 14 attempts. The fourth-seeded Owls, now with a record of 19-13, are set to face the number one seed, Liberty, in the semifinals on Friday.
Adrian Wooley contributed significantly to Kennesaw State’s success with 17 points and ensured the team’s victory by sinking two crucial free throws with only one second remaining on the clock. Meanwhile, Braedan Lue was a vital asset, adding 15 points by connecting on three 3-pointers.
New Mexico State, seeded fifth and holding a record of 17-15, was led by Peter Filipovity and Robert Carpenter, each scoring 21 points. Filipovity also pulled down six rebounds, while teammate Nate Tshimanga chipped in with 10 points.
At the halfway mark, the contest was tightly locked at 34-34, with Cottle contributing 13 points in the first half. He continued his momentum into the second half, scoring 19 more points to ensure Kennesaw State’s advancement by a slim three-point margin.
