FORT MYERS, Fla. — The GEICO Coconut Hoops event wrapped up Wednesday night with the Owls pulling out a dramatic 102–100 overtime win over Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (FGCU), capturing the Tarpon Bay Division title and improving their season record to 5–2.

The game was highlighted by a career-night from senior guard Simeon Cottle, who scored 33 points, including 11 in overtime, on 7-of-13 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range. In the extra period, Kennesaw State was perfect: 4-of-4 from the field, 2-of-2 from deep, and 12-of-12 at the free-throw line.

Supporting Cottle, forward Braedan Lue added 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Meanwhile, the Owls controlled the boards 45–35 and outscored FGCU 46–34 in the paint. The win also marked the program’s fifth overtime victory under head coach Antoine Pettway over the last three seasons.

The Owls got the 2025-26 season off to a raucous start at home. On November 3, they rolled past Paine Lions 105–30, a 75-point blowout that set a new program record for largest margin of victory in the Division I era. The team launched 13 made three-pointers in the first half alone, and seniors and newcomers alike contributed: Cottle and freshman Trey Simpson both scored 17 points.

Just days later, the Owls hit the road for their first away game of the season at Florida A&M Rattlers, a contest they won convincingly, extending their win streak to start the season.

However, KSU’s run at the Coconut Hoops wasn’t without a stumble. On November 25, the Owls fell 91–83 to Oral Roberts Golden Eagles after the Golden Eagles put on a three-point shooting clinic, knocking down 62% from beyond the arc. The loss dropped KSU to 4–2 at the time.

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What the Early Stretch Says About This Owls Team

• The explosive season opener, both in terms of scoring and margin, suggested the Owls are capable of overwhelming mismatches offensively.
• The overtime win against FGCU highlights the team’s composure under pressure and roster depth: not just Cottle, but several players stepped up.
• The loss to Oral Roberts serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead; hot shooting and turnovers can derail even a talented KSU squad.
• Through the early non-conference slate, the Owls appear poised to build momentum heading into conference play, with a mix of promising freshman contributions and veteran leadership.

With their 5–2 record, Kennesaw State heads into the next portion of their schedule riding confidence from both dominant wins and hard-fought victories. As conference play in Conference USA (C-USA) looms, the Owls, guided by Coach Pettway and offensive sparks from Cottle, Lue, Simpson, and others, will look to carry this momentum forward and make a strong push this season.