HUNTSVILLE — There will be some familiar faces to local basketball fans Sunday when Kennesaw State takes the court against the University of Alabama in the annual Rocket City Classic.
The Owls (8-3) tip off against the No. 16 Crimson Tide (8-3) at 1 p.m. in the Von Braun Center Propst Arena.
The matchup reunites KSU head coach Antoine Pettway against his alma mater and the program he served as an assistant coach.
“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to travel to Huntsville and play one of the best programs in the country in the University of Alabama,” said Pettway. “It’s no secret how I feel about what Nate Oats and his staff have been able to accomplish since arriving in Tuscaloosa.
“We are grateful to the Rocket City Classic for inviting us and we look forward to competing against high level competition in front of some amazing fans in the city of Huntsville.”
The Owls of Conference USA also bring a local connection with Bob Jones High graduate Kaden Rickard and Grissom’s RJ Johnson.
Rickard, a 6-6 freshman guard, is averaging 8.3 points a game and leads the Owls with 36 assists. He had a double-double Dec. 3 against Jackson State with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Johnson, a 6-4 redshirt sophomore guard, averages 9.6 points a game and leads the team with 16 steals.
Kennesaw State dropped their conference opener Wednesday, 68-67 at Middle Tennessee State.
The Owls have the preseason CUSA Player of the Year, Simeon Cottle, who is averaging 19.3 points a game.
Last year, Cottle set two school records: most three-point field goals in a game (achieved eight times in two games) and most three-pointers in a season (90).
Tickets are available here. Fans can save 25% by entering the code 25CLASSIC at checkout.
