KENNESAW, Ga. — The Kennesaw State Owls picked up another strong win Tuesday night, defeating the Jackson State Tigers 88–73 at home. The victory improves KSU to 6–2 so far this season.

After a sluggish start, making just three field goals in the first seven minutes and trailing early, the Owls turned the game in their favor with a 17-0 run sparked by a driving dunk from guard Simeon Cottle. That 17-0 run bloomed into a 27-4 spurt, giving KSU a commanding 34–20 lead. By halftime, it was 46–32.

In the second half, Kennesaw pushed its lead even further, at one point ahead by 25 points. Jackson State made a late push to cut the margin, but the Owls made adjustments and responded to close out the 15-point win.

A major factor: KSU dominated the boards and controlled the inside. The Owls out-rebounded Jackson State 52–36 and outscored them 36–16 in the paint.

That kind of domination up front gave the perimeter guys room to operate, and helped limit second-chance opportunities for the Tigers.

• Simeon Cottle delivered a team-high 28 points, going 9 of 19 from the field, 4 of 11 from three, and an unblemished 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, just one rebound shy of a near double-double.
• Off the bench, Frankquon Sherman produced a rugged double-double: 16 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the Owls’ frontcourt presence and providing toughness on the glass.
• Ramone Seals added 13 points and pulled down seven boards — giving the backcourt and perimeter some needed spacing and secondary scoring.
• Freshman Kaden Rickard also logged a first-career double-double: 11 points and 10 rebounds, a promising sign of young depth contributing early.

This win is part of a solid start for the Owls under third-year head coach Antoine Pettway. The 2025–26 season has Kennesaw at 6–2 overall as the continue to improve while they wait to begin conference play.

Cottle, who’s often slated as the offensive engine of this team, is continuing to lead the way with scoring and aggressiveness. Meanwhile, Sherman and Rickard’s contributions up front show that the Owls are not just a perimeter-heavy team, they can also pound the paint and control the glass.

With a healthy mix of veterans and newcomers stepping up, Kennesaw State is showing signs of cohesion, athleticism, and depth. If the outside shooting and the inside game stays consistent, the Owls could be a big threat in their conference.