The Sports Inquirer

Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:

KENNESAW, Ga. – With the official unveiling of the 2014-15 schedule on Tuesday morning, the Kennesaw State men’s basketball team booked it’s calendar for the upcoming campaign, which features 31 games.

“It poses everything were looking for in a non-conference schedule,” said head coach Jimmy Lallathin of the schedule. “It consists of some big games on the national level, but also with some regional and local challenges that will get us ready for Atlantic Sun Conference play.”

The Owls open up the season with the previously announced 2K Classic, starting things off on Nov. 14 at Syracuse, one of three 2013-14 NCAA Tournament teams KSU will face, followed by a trip to the west coast to take on the Bears of Cal on Nov. 16.

KSU returns to the state of Georgia on Nov. 19 for a match-up against rival Mercer before taking off again, returning to play in the 2K Classic in Fargo, N.D. The Owls will play both the host team North Dakota State on Nov. 21 and either Alcorn State or Hampton one day later.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenging first five games,” said senior captain Delbert Love. “But heading into my last year I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m excited for people to see how hard we’ve been working this offseason and watch it pay off on the floor.”

On Nov. 26 the Owls will make their long-awaited home debut, hosting Samford at 2 p.m. ET in the Convocation Center and Chattanooga on Nov. 29 at noon.

December will start off with a trip to warmer weather for Lallathin’s bunch, as the Owls head to Miami, Fla. for a contest at FIU on Dec. 2 followed by a home meeting with Kent State on Dec. 6.

KSU takes to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Dec. 8 to face perennial mid-major power Butler. The Owls then make their annual trip to the Buckeye State, facing Youngstown State on Dec. 17.

The Owls return home for two games after the contest against the Penguins, hosting UMBC on Dec. 20 and Elon on Dec. 22, both games at 3 p.m. ET in the Convo.

Wrapping-up non-conference road play, the Owls head to Illinois on Dec. 27 with a New Year’s Eve contest at Tennessee State ending the month of December.

Back home on Jan. 3, the Owls will host Thomas University followed by the start of A-Sun play on Jan. 10 when KSU hits the road to take on USC Upstate.

The road trip continues for Kennesaw State on Jan. 14 with a lone game at NKU in Highland Heights, Ky. with a three-game home stand starting off on Jan. 17 as the Owls host Lipscomb at 2 p.m. ET.

The Hatters of Stetson roll into town on Jan. 22 with 2013-14 A-Sun regular season champ FGCU arriving on Jan. 24. KSU then heads back south for a pair of league games in Jacksonville, Fla., taking on North Florida on Jan. 29 and Jacksonville on Jan. 31.

Non-conference play comes to an end on Feb. 3 with KSU playing host to Paine College before jumping back into league play with USC Upstate on Feb. 7, starting off the second round of A-Sun games.

Jacksonville makes the return trip to Kennesaw, Ga. on Feb. 12 as does North Florida on Valentine’s Day for a 2 p.m. ET showdown. The Owls then make their way back to the Sunshine State on Feb. 19, playing at Florida Gulf Coast followed by a matchup at Stetson on Feb. 21.

Regular season home play comes to a close on Feb. 25 with the Owls hosting Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET with the final game of the year taking place on Feb. 28 at Lipscomb in an 11 a.m. ET contest.

“I believe this league continues to be undervalued and overlooked at times,” added Lallathin. “But again, top to bottom this league I think everybody is going to beat up on everybody. I think it’s the most balanced we’ve seen, at least since I’ve been here, and I’m looking forward to competing.”

The 8-team A-Sun Tournament will take place on March 3-8 with the higher seeded team again hosting each game.