Markeith Cummings returned from a one-game suspension to score 21 points Friday night and lead Kennesaw State to a 65-59 victory over Chattanooga for Lewis Preston's first head coaching victory.
Cummings, a junior guard, sat out Monday night's loss by the Owls (1-2) to Auburn for what the school called ''conduct detrimental to the team.''
The Mocs (0-3) led by as many as nine points, 14-5, with 13:12 left in the first half, but the Owls outscored them 12-2 over the next 4:40. A layup by Cummings, who did not start, gave the Owls their first lead, 17-16, and they went on to lead 37-31 at halftime.
Chattanooga got within four, 62-58, with 1:20 to play, but Cummings dunked and completed a three-point play with 32 seconds left.
Spencer Dixon added 17 points for the Owls.
Ricky Taylor scored 14 points, Omar Wattad 12 and Drazen Zlovaric 11 for Chattanooga.
