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KENSAW

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Kennesaw State wins ASUN title, earns 1st NCAA tourney berth

AP
Mar 05, 2023

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) Terrell Burden scored 19 points and made a free throw with less than a second left to rally Kennesaw State to a 67-66 victory over Liberty on Sunday, earning the Owls their first Atlantic Sun Conference championship and their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

It is a remarkable turnaround for Kennesaw State under fourth-year coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. The Owls finished with a 1-28 record in 2019-20 - Burden's freshman season and the first under Abdur-Rahim. They went 5-19 in Abdur-Rahim's second season and 13-18 last year. Now the Owls will bring a school-record 26-8 mark to their first Big Dance.

Kennesaw State can credit its victory to the defensive job it did on Liberty's Darius McGhee, the ASUN player of the year and the conference's all-time leading scorer. McGhee made just 6 of 21 shots from the floor and he was 0 for 11 from beyond the arc. McGhee came in averaging 22.7 points per game but finished with 14. Kyle Rode scored a career-high 23 points for the Flames (26-8). The senior made 9 of 14 shots with four 3-pointers.

Chris Youngblood hit all seven of his free throws and scored 16 for Kennesaw State. Demond Robinson pitched in with 10 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Brandon Stroud added 12 points and six boards.

Rode hit two 3-pointers and scored 11 to guide Liberty to a 29-27 lead at halftime.

Kennesaw State battled back to take a 48-43 lead on a 3-pointer by Simeon Cottle with 10:54 left in the game. The Owls stayed in front until Rode hit a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run that put the Flames on top 53-51 at the 7:43 mark. Youngblood answered with a 3-pointer, Burden followed with a layup and Kennesaw State reclaimed the lead.

Colin Porter buried a 3-pointer to pull Liberty even at 66 with 23 seconds left. Porter was fouled on a drive to the basket with O.7 seconds remaining. He made the first one for the lead and intentionally missed the second to run out the clock.

The contest marked the first time a game at the KSU Convocation Center was broadcast on national television. The Owls notched their victory before an arena-record crowd of 3,805.

Liberty entered 3-0 in its previous trips to the ASUN title game.

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1st Half
LIB
Flames
29
KNSW
Owls
27

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Blake Preston vs. Demond Robinson (Owls gains possession)
19:45		Spencer Rodgers turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Rode steals)
19:17		Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
19:15		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
19:00		Terrell Burden turnover (lost ball) (Colin Porter steals)
18:57		Demond Robinson blocks Colin Porter's two point layup
18:55		Flames offensive rebound
18:46	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point layup	2-0
18:29		Brandon Stroud misses two point layup
18:27		Blake Preston defensive rebound
18:18	+2	Blake Preston makes two point dunk (Colin Porter assists)	4-0
17:54	+2	Brandon Stroud makes two point jump shot	4-2
17:38		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
17:36		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
17:30	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	4-4
17:30		Colin Porter shooting foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
17:30	+1	Terrell Burden makes regular free throw 1 of 1	4-5
17:04		Kyle Rode misses two point layup
17:02		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
16:51	+3	Spencer Rodgers makes three point jump shot (Terrell Burden assists)	4-8
16:32		Joseph Venzant misses three point jump shot
16:30		Terrell Burden defensive rebound
16:24		Terrell Burden turnover (bad pass) (Darius McGhee steals)
16:15	+3	Kyle Rode makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)	7-8
15:52		Brandon Stroud misses two point jump shot
15:50		Chris Youngblood offensive rebound
15:46		Chris Youngblood misses two point layup
15:44		Blake Preston defensive rebound
15:38		Darius McGhee turnover (bad pass)
15:38		TV timeout
15:18		Isiah Warfield shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
15:18	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-9
15:18	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-10
14:53		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
14:51		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
14:44	+3	Brandon Stroud makes three point jump shot (Demond Robinson assists)	7-13
14:24		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
14:22		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
14:17		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
14:15		Kyle Rode defensive rebound
14:00		Shiloh Robinson offensive foul (Kasen Jennings draws the foul)
14:00		Shiloh Robinson turnover (offensive foul)
13:38	+2	Demond Robinson makes two point layup (Brandon Stroud assists)	7-15
13:10	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point layup	9-15
12:51		Terrell Burden misses two point layup
12:49		Brody Peebles defensive rebound
12:44		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
12:42		Terrell Burden defensive rebound
12:36		Terrell Burden turnover (bad pass) (Shiloh Robinson steals)
12:12		Jump ball. (Flames gains possession)
12:09		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
12:07		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
11:51		Demond Robinson misses two point hook shot
11:49		Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
11:36	+3	Kyle Rode makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)	12-15
11:21		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
11:19		Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
11:05	+2	Kyle Rode makes two point layup (Isiah Warfield assists)	14-15
10:34		Demond Robinson misses two point jump shot
10:32		Flames defensive rebound
10:32		TV timeout
10:11		Zach Cleveland misses two point jump shot
10:10		Zach Cleveland offensive rebound
10:02		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
10:00		Simeon Cottle defensive rebound
9:40		Quincy Ademokoya misses two point jump shot
9:38		Colin Porter defensive rebound
9:25		Alex Peterson personal foul (Blake Preston draws the foul)
9:16		Colin Porter misses two point jump shot
9:14		Blake Preston offensive rebound
9:05		Brandon Stroud personal foul (Isiah Warfield draws the foul)
8:53	+2	Blake Preston makes two point layup	16-15
8:40	+3	Brandon Stroud makes three point jump shot (Spencer Rodgers assists)	16-18
8:13		Alex Peterson shooting foul (Joseph Venzant draws the foul)
8:13		Joseph Venzant misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:13	+1	Joseph Venzant makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-18
7:56		Brandon Stroud turnover (bad pass)
7:56		TV timeout
7:32		Brandon Stroud shooting foul (Kyle Rode draws the foul)
7:32		Kyle Rode misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:32	+1	Kyle Rode makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-18
7:16		Joseph Venzant shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
7:16	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-19
7:16	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-20
7:01	+2	Colin Porter makes two point layup	20-20
6:38		Colin Porter personal foul (Spencer Rodgers draws the foul)
6:31		Chris Youngblood misses two point jump shot
6:29		Demond Robinson offensive rebound
6:25	+2	Demond Robinson makes two point layup	20-22
6:01	+2	Kyle Rode makes two point layup	22-22
5:41	+2	Demond Robinson makes two point hook shot (Kasen Jennings assists)	22-24
5:30	+2	Zach Cleveland makes two point layup (Darius McGhee assists)	24-24
5:07		Zach Cleveland personal foul (Demond Robinson draws the foul)
5:02		Isiah Warfield shooting foul (Kasen Jennings draws the foul)
5:02		Kasen Jennings misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:02	+1	Kasen Jennings makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-25
4:42		Kyle Rode turnover (bad pass) (Terrell Burden steals)
4:39		Terrell Burden turnover (lost ball) (Darius McGhee steals)
4:37		Kasen Jennings personal foul (Darius McGhee draws the foul)
4:23	+2	Zach Cleveland makes two point hook shot	26-25
4:01		Chris Youngblood turnover (traveling)
3:48	+2	Zach Cleveland makes two point layup	28-25
3:22		Spencer Rodgers turnover (bad pass) (Blake Preston steals)
3:12		Kyle Rode misses three point jump shot
3:10		Blake Preston offensive rebound
3:09		Blake Preston misses two point layup
3:08		Zach Cleveland offensive rebound
3:07		Zach Cleveland misses two point layup
3:05		Zach Cleveland offensive rebound
3:04		Demond Robinson shooting foul (Zach Cleveland draws the foul)
3:04		TV timeout
3:04		Zach Cleveland misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:04	+1	Zach Cleveland makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-25
2:39		Demond Robinson misses two point hook shot
2:37		Darius McGhee defensive rebound
2:19		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
2:17		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
2:08	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	29-27
1:35		Blake Preston misses two point layup
1:33		Flames turnover (shot clock violation)
1:19		Kyle Rode personal foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
1:19		Terrell Burden misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:19		Darius McGhee defensive rebound
1:01		Blake Preston misses two point layup
0:59		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
0:47		Demond Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Brody Peebles steals)
0:35		Joseph Venzant misses two point layup
0:33		Spencer Rodgers defensive rebound
0:26		Owls 30 second timeout
0:04		Chris Youngblood misses two point jump shot
0:02		Shiloh Robinson defensive rebound
0:01		Kyle Rode misses three point jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
LIB
Flames
37
KNSW
Owls
40

Time		Play	Score
19:48	+2	Demond Robinson makes two point jump shot	29-29
19:19	+2	Colin Porter makes two point jump shot	31-29
19:06		Chris Youngblood misses three point jump shot
19:04		Kyle Rode defensive rebound
18:50		Kyle Rode turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Stroud steals)
18:44	+2	Brandon Stroud makes two point layup	31-31
18:26	+2	Blake Preston makes two point layup	33-31
18:10		Brandon Stroud misses two point layup
18:08		Chris Youngblood offensive rebound
18:08	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point layup	33-33
18:08		Kyle Rode shooting foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
18:08	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 1	33-34
17:53		Darius McGhee misses two point jump shot
17:51		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
17:43		Terrell Burden turnover (lost ball)
17:21		Darius McGhee misses two point jump shot
17:19		Flames offensive rebound
17:13	+2	Kyle Rode makes two point layup	35-34
16:59	+3	Spencer Rodgers makes three point jump shot (Terrell Burden assists)	35-37
16:35		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
16:33		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
16:21		Demond Robinson turnover (bad pass)
16:08		Brandon Stroud personal foul (Kyle Rode draws the foul)
16:02		Colin Porter misses two point layup
16:00		Chris Youngblood defensive rebound
15:55		TV timeout
15:44		Chris Youngblood misses two point jump shot
15:42		Flames defensive rebound
15:42		Quincy Ademokoya personal foul
15:25		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
15:23		Quincy Ademokoya defensive rebound
15:16	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	35-39
15:04	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point layup	37-39
14:50		Quincy Ademokoya misses three point jump shot
14:48		Colin Porter defensive rebound
14:41		Colin Porter misses two point layup
14:39		Joseph Venzant offensive rebound
14:35		Joseph Venzant misses two point layup
14:33		Chris Youngblood defensive rebound
14:23		Terrell Burden misses three point jump shot
14:21		Colin Porter defensive rebound
14:09	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point jump shot	39-39
13:45		Quincy Ademokoya misses three point jump shot
13:43		Colin Porter defensive rebound
13:29		Darius McGhee misses two point dunk
13:27		Terrell Burden defensive rebound
13:27		Joseph Venzant personal foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
13:08	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	39-41
12:49		Kyle Rode misses two point jump shot
12:47		Isiah Warfield offensive rebound
12:41		Colin Porter misses three point jump shot
12:39		Chris Youngblood defensive rebound
12:20	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	39-43
12:07		Darius McGhee misses two point layup
12:05		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
12:02		Demond Robinson offensive foul (Colin Porter draws the foul)
12:02		Demond Robinson turnover (offensive foul)
11:46		Chris Youngblood shooting foul (Shiloh Robinson draws the foul)
11:46		TV timeout
11:46	+1	Shiloh Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-43
11:46	+1	Shiloh Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-43
11:34	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point layup	41-45
11:16	+2	Kyle Rode makes two point jump shot (Isiah Warfield assists)	43-45
11:02		Shiloh Robinson personal foul
10:53	+3	Simeon Cottle makes three point jump shot (Demond Robinson assists)	43-48
10:36		Shiloh Robinson misses two point layup
10:34		Zach Cleveland offensive rebound
10:28	+2	Kyle Rode makes two point layup (Zach Cleveland assists)	45-48
10:12		Simeon Cottle misses two point jump shot
10:10		Shiloh Robinson defensive rebound
10:05		Kyle Rode misses three point jump shot
10:03		Kyle Rode offensive rebound
9:57		Shiloh Robinson misses three point jump shot
9:55		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
9:37		Demond Robinson misses two point hook shot
9:35		Owls offensive rebound
9:29	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	45-50
9:29		Colin Porter shooting foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
9:29	+1	Terrell Burden makes regular free throw 1 of 1	45-51
9:19		Darius McGhee turnover (lost ball) (Quincy Ademokoya steals)
9:12		Spencer Rodgers misses three point jump shot
9:10		Darius McGhee defensive rebound
9:05	+2	Shiloh Robinson makes two point layup (Darius McGhee assists)	47-51
9:05		Alex Peterson shooting foul (Shiloh Robinson draws the foul)
9:05	+1	Shiloh Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	48-51
8:37		Terrell Burden misses two point jump shot
8:35		Colin Porter defensive rebound
8:29	+2	Shiloh Robinson makes two point dunk (Isiah Warfield assists)	50-51
8:06		Shiloh Robinson blocks Kasen Jennings's three point jump shot
8:04		Owls offensive rebound
7:58		Isiah Warfield personal foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
7:58		TV timeout
7:51		Demond Robinson turnover (offensive goaltending)
7:39	+3	Kyle Rode makes three point jump shot (Zach Cleveland assists)	53-51
7:35		Shiloh Robinson personal foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
7:19		Spencer Rodgers misses two point jump shot
7:17		Isiah Warfield defensive rebound
7:02		Shiloh Robinson misses two point layup
7:00		Kyle Rode offensive rebound
6:58		Flames 30 second timeout
6:58		TV timeout
6:54		Darius McGhee turnover (lost ball) (Spencer Rodgers steals)
6:35		Brandon Stroud misses two point layup
6:33		Colin Porter defensive rebound
6:08		Colin Porter turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Stroud steals)
5:58	+3	Chris Youngblood makes three point jump shot (Terrell Burden assists)	53-54
5:24		Spencer Rodgers personal foul (Colin Porter draws the foul)
5:18		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
5:16		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
4:59	+2	Terrell Burden makes two point layup	53-56
4:42	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point layup	55-56
4:22	+2	Demond Robinson makes two point dunk (Kasen Jennings assists)	55-58
4:20		Owls 30 second timeout
4:20		TV timeout
4:10		Darius McGhee turnover (bad pass) (Terrell Burden steals)
3:51		Colin Porter personal foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
3:51	+1	Terrell Burden makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-59
3:51	+1	Terrell Burden makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-60
3:28		Zach Cleveland misses two point hook shot
3:26		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
3:02	+2	Chris Youngblood makes two point jump shot	55-62
2:53		Kasen Jennings personal foul (Colin Porter draws the foul)
2:53	+1	Colin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-62
2:53		Colin Porter misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:53		Demond Robinson defensive rebound
2:33		Kasen Jennings turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Rode steals)
2:22		Darius McGhee misses three point jump shot
2:20		Isiah Warfield offensive rebound
2:18	+3	Kyle Rode makes three point jump shot (Colin Porter assists)	59-62
2:18		Flames 60 second timeout
1:59		Kasen Jennings misses three point jump shot
1:57		Blake Preston defensive rebound
1:57		Demond Robinson personal foul (Blake Preston draws the foul)
1:57		Blake Preston misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:57		Brandon Stroud defensive rebound
1:34		Shiloh Robinson personal foul (Chris Youngblood draws the foul)
1:34	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-63
1:34	+1	Chris Youngblood makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-64
1:28	+2	Darius McGhee makes two point layup	61-64
1:04		Shiloh Robinson personal foul (Brandon Stroud draws the foul)
1:04	+1	Brandon Stroud makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-65
1:04	+1	Brandon Stroud makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-66
1:04		Owls 60 second timeout
0:56		Brandon Stroud shooting foul (Darius McGhee draws the foul)
0:56	+1	Darius McGhee makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-66
0:56	+1	Darius McGhee makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-66
0:35		Terrell Burden turnover (lost ball)
0:24	+3	Colin Porter makes three point jump shot	66-66
0:24		Flames 30 second timeout
0:01		Isiah Warfield shooting foul (Terrell Burden draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Terrell Burden makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-67
0:01		Terrell Burden misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:01		Zach Cleveland defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Zach Cleveland defensive rebound