Preview: Delaware Blue Hens at Kennesaw State Owls

KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — The Kennesaw State Owls, riding a three-game winning streak, will host the struggling Delaware Blue Hens in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Saturday at the KSU Convocation Center.

The Owls (17-11) enter the contest after a 74-65 home victory over Liberty on Thursday. Guard RJ Johnson powered the win with 25 points and five assists, continuing a strong late-season surge. Over his last five games, Johnson is averaging 22.2 points and 4.6 assists, including a 29-point performance in a road win at Missouri State on Feb. 18.

Kennesaw State has won five of its last seven to solidify its position in the conference standings, relying on an offense that has scored at least 74 points in each game during the current win streak.

Delaware (9-19) looks to halt a three-game skid, most recently falling 80-70 in overtime at Jacksonville State on Thursday. Despite the loss, guard Justyn Fernandez delivered a career-high 30 points in 42 minutes. Fernandez has been a consistent bright spot for the Blue Hens, scoring 21 or more points in seven of the last nine games, including a 27-point, 8-rebound effort in an overtime win over Middle Tennessee on Feb. 7.

The Blue Hens’ season has been marked by close defeats, with four of their last seven losses coming by six points or fewer, including an 88-87 overtime loss to Western Kentucky on Feb. 18.

In the only previous meeting this season, Delaware defeated Kennesaw State 67-52 in Newark on Jan. 4. The Owls will seek to avenge that result and improve their seeding for the upcoming conference tournament.

The matchup features two of the league’s top scorers in Johnson and Fernandez, whose backcourt battle will likely dictate the tempo. Kennesaw State’s improved defense, which has held opponents under 66 points in two of the last three games, will be tested by Fernandez’s high-volume scoring.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Following this game, Kennesaw State begins a two-game road trip to UTEP and New Mexico State. Delaware returns home to host Sam Houston and Louisiana Tech next week.