KSU’s Preston taking leave of absence from basketball

Kennesaw State men’s basketball coach Lewis Preston has taken a leave of absence from the team for personal and medical reasons, according to a release from the school.

Athletics director Vaughn Williams declined to comment. A text to Preston hasn’t been returned.

Assistant Jimmy Lallathin will take over as interim coach.

Preston is in his third year at the school.

The Owls, as they have in the past two years, are struggling on the court. They were beaten by Jacksonville 86-66 on Wednesday to fall to 3-12 this year. They have lost seven consecutive games, each by at least 17 points.

Preston, formerly an assistant at Penn State, took over a Kennesaw State program that was struggling on the court and in the classroom to the point that it received academic-related penalties from the NCAA for the 2011-12 season.

The Owls went 3-28 in Preston’s first year and 3-27 last year.