Rakeem Buckles scored 20 points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds and Florida International won a battle of two winless teams, holding off Kennesaw State 66-58 Sunday afternoon at the KSU Tournament at Kennesaw.
The Golden Panthers (1-2) shot 42.6 percent from the field and had four starters score in double figures. The game was closely contested until FIU used a 14-4 run to hold a 57-46 advantage with less than six minutes remaining.
The Owls (0-3) cut the deficit to four with 1:25 remaining on two baskets by Orlando Coleman. But FIU responded with a 3-pointer from Raymond Taylor and a late free throw by Tymell Murphy.
Delbert Love led Kennesaw State, scoring a game-high 24, and Bernard Morena scored 10 with eight rebounds.
KSU plays again Monday, hosting Warren Wilson at 11 a.m.
In the other tourney game Sunday afternoon, Kendrick Perry had 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as Youngstown State (3-0) held off Eastern Kentucky 75-67. EKU (2-1) is the preseason pick to win the Ohio Valley Conference. Youngstown was picked fifth in the preseason Horizon League coaches poll. Perry had 66 points, 18 rebounds and 17 assists over the three-game tourney.
Women’s games
Georgia Tech 87, Western Carolina 47: Freshman Kaela Davis collected her second double-double in as many games and the Yellow Jackets made a school-record 13 3-pointers in an easy victory at McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets shot 61.5 percent in the second half and had a 22-0 run to more than double the Catamounts (0-2).
“I’m really pleased with the way we are playing and the balance we have,” coach MaChelle Joseph said. “This is the most threes we have made in a game. I think the thing that has impressed me the most in these first two games is the assists and the way they are sharing the basketball.”
Davis scored a team-high 20 and grabbed 10 rebounds. It was the first double-double in consecutive games since senior Tyaunna Marshall accomplished the feat last January.
Georgia Tech (2-0) visits No. 4 Tennessee at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox Sports South.
Georgia 45, Presbyterian 30: Sophomore Merritt Hempe scored a game-high 10 and the Lady Bulldogs dispatched the Blue Hose at Stegeman Coliseum in the opener for both teams. Georgia played without sophomore guards Marjorie Butler and Tiaria Griffin. They are serving three-game suspensions for not "adhering to standards for the program."
Senior Khaalidah Miller added seven points, while tying career high marks with 11 rebounds and six assists.
“Defensively, I didn’t think we were very effective on the ball,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said. “Everybody on our team got taken to the rim.”
Georgia used a 9-0 run midway through the first half to help create a 15-6 lead with just more than five minutes remaining in the half. Miller led the charge for the Bulldogs at the start of the second half, quickly converting on a three-point play in the first 30 seconds. A three-pointer by freshman point guard Sydnei McCaskill helped extend the Georgia lead to 30-16 in the half’s opening minutes.
Mercer visits Georgia at 7 p.m. Thursday.
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