Struggling Georgia State Faces Hot Kennesaw State in Nonconference Clash KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in early-season fortunes will be on display Saturday when the struggling Georgia State Panthers visit the surging Kennesaw State Owls in a nonconference men’s basketball game. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff at the KSU Convocation Center. Georgia State (1-8) enters mired in a seven-game losing streak following a 78-67 road loss at Mercer on Tuesday. The Panthers’ lone win came against Division II Fort Valley State on Nov. 13. First-year coach Jonas Hayes is searching for answers as his team has struggled offensively, failing to reach 70 points in any of its eight losses. The Panthers will lean on guard Micah Tucker, who is averaging 13.9 points per game. Tucker scored 16 points in the loss at Mercer and had a season-high 21 points in a defeat to Samford on Nov. 25. Kennesaw State (6-2), under coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, has found its rhythm, winning four of its last five. The Owls are coming off an 88-73 home victory over Jackson State on Tuesday, powered by a dynamic offense averaging 89.6 points per game at home. The Owls are led by high-scoring guard Simeon Cottle, who is averaging 22.1 points. Cottle has been on a tear, dropping 28 points against Jackson State and a season-high 33 in a 102-100 overtime win at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 26. His backcourt partnership with Terrell Burden has been a catalyst for one of the nation’s most improved offensive units. Historically, this intrastate matchup has been tightly contested. Kennesaw State won last year’s meeting 69-65 in Atlanta, but Georgia State holds a 6-3 series advantage since 2005. For Georgia State, the focus will be on defensive containment and finding consistent scoring beyond Tucker. Freshman Jakai Newton (18 points vs. Mercer) and forward Ayouba Berthe have shown flashes. Kennesaw State will look to leverage its home-court advantage and offensive firepower to extend Georgia State’s woes before a challenging stretch that includes upcoming road games at Middle Tennessee and Alabama. After Saturday, Georgia State hosts Jacksonville State on Dec. 13. Kennesaw State welcomes Southern Wesleyan on Dec. 8.