Cummings, Kennesaw State defeat Chattanooga 65-59

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) 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.

Updated November 18, 2011