03/14/26 10:18:00
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03/14 22:13 CDT Harris, Taylor lead Kennesaw State 71-60 over Louisiana Tech
for first Conference USA Championship
Harris, Taylor lead Kennesaw State 71-60 over Louisiana Tech for first
Conference USA Championship
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) --- Jaden Harris and Amir Taylor combined to score 35
points and No. 6 seed Kennesaw State defeated No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech to win
their first Conference USA championship and clinch a berth to the NCAA
Tournament.
Harris posted 18 on 4 of 6 from behind the arc. Taylor had 17, going 9 for 11
from the free-throw line, while tallying six rebounds and two steals. RJ
Johnson added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Owls (21-13) led 35-32 at the half, and used a 10-2 run starting with 8:42
left in the game to build up an 11-point lead inside the final four minutes.
This is the Owls' second 20-win season in school history, and their first title
game in the second year in the conference. They were the third-lowest seed to
win the Conference USA tournament. It's their second trip ever to the NCAA
Tournament.
The Bulldogs (20-14) were led by Avery Thomas II's 10-point, 10-rebound
performance. Scooter Williams Jr. had 10 points. Kaden Cooper had 10 rebounds.
AJ Bates had eight assists.
The Bulldogs were done in by 7% shooting from behind the arc (2 for 28). They
shot 31% from the field (22 for 72). They entered Saturday's contest with a
35-year NCAA Tournament drought.
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