Kennesaw State rallies in second half for win

Antoine Pettway gets 50th career coaching victory in win over Louisiana Tech.

Kennesaw State Owls head coach Antoine Pettway calls a play during the second half of an Conference USA basketball game Jan. 28, 2026 at Kennesaw State University. Saturday's win over Louisiana Tech was the 50th coaching win of Pettway's career. (Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

By AJC Sports

1 hour ago

Kennesaw State outscored Louisiana Tech 20-13 over the final 8:30 of the second half, as the Owls rallied from a second-half deficit to defeat the Bulldogs on Saturday, 58-55.

RJ Johnson scored 15 points for Kennesaw State, helping to give coach Antoine Pettway his 50th career coaching victory.

Johnson had five rebounds and five assists for the Owls (16-11, 8-8 Conference USA). Frankquon Sherman added 10 points while grabbing six rebounds.

After the Bulldogs tied the game at 53-53 with 2:30 to play, Jaden Harris hit a 3-pointer with just over two minutes to play to put the Owls ahead for good.

Kaden Cooper led the way for the Bulldogs (15-12, 8-8) with 18 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Louisiana Tech also got 12 points, five assists and three steals from AJ Bates. DJ Dudley also had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Johnson scored eight points in the first half and Kennesaw State went into halftime trailing 25-23. Kennesaw State pulled off the victory after an 8-0 second-half run erased a six-point deficit and gave them the lead at 34-32 with 15:05 remaining in the half. Lue scored eight second-half points.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this article.

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