Nov. 19, 2007

KENNESAW, Ga. - The road-tested Owls will travel this holiday week as they head to Miami to battle Florida International at Pharmed Arena in Miami on Wednesday evening in search of their first road victory of the season.

Kennesaw State (1-3) will battle the Golden Panthers for the second straight season. Last year the teams met for the first time and Florida International came away with a two-point victory, 70-68, at the KSU Convocation Center when Shuan Stegall missed a pair of free throws in the final second.

Florida International (1-0) is beginning the season with seven straight home games, but hasn't played a game in what will be nine days. In their season opener on Nov. 12, the Golden Panthers defeated Division II member Florida Tech, 80-66.

The Owls are coming off a weekend in which they split a pair of games at the 100 Club Classic. KSU had a strong effort on Friday night against Jacksonville State in which they came away with a six-point win. On Saturday, the Owls fell to Colgate as Ronell Wooten was the lone KSU player to score in double figures.

The Golden Panthers are led by preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection, 6-foot-6-inch forward Alex Galindo. FIU returns three starters from last including Chris Fuller and Michael James. In addition, a pair of transfers Russell Hicks (Pepperdine) and Kenneth White (Texas A&M) round out the starting five.

The game is the second meeting between the Owls and a Sun Belt conference team. Kennesaw State fell to Western Kentucky in the season opener. KSU enters this year's game with the same record they had enter last year's game with the Golden Panthers. Stegall and Ronell Wooten combined for 37 points last season while Galindo, FIU's leading scorer last season and the Golden Panthers second leading scorer this season, scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

THE GAME REPORT
Who Kennesaw State (1-3) vs. Florida International (1-0)
Where Pharmed Arena, Miami, Fla.
When Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
All-Time Series Florida International leads 1-0
Coaches Kennesaw State - Tony Ingle; Florida International Sergio Ruoco
Players to Watch Kennesaw State - Ronell Wooten (11.8 pts, 4.5 reb.), Shuan Stegall (12.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Tanner Jacobs (8.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Florida International - Russell Hicks (16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Alex Galindo (15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Erick Nsangou (15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)