KENT, OHIO – The Kent State Golden Flashes improved to 10-2 on the season as they held off a challenge from the Albany Great Danes for a 70-68 win Friday night at the MAC Center.
Senior Jaylin Walker scored 26 points, including a pair of free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining to give Kent State its eighth win in the last nine games.
When the game is like that (tight and close) I do what I do best to get the victory.” Walker said of his heroics.
KSU's victory was the 149th career win for Golden Flashes head coach Rob Senderoff, who surpassed Jim McDonald as the winningest coach in KSU men’s basketball history. McDonald amassed 148 victories from 1982-92.
“It was great to get another win. Senderoff said. “We knew it would be a tough game and we made enough plays to get the victory.”
Junior Phillip Whittington added 14 points and eight rebounds for Kent State. Ten of those 14 points came in a crucial part of the first half.
When asked about the accomplishment, Senderoff said “Its not about me, its about the team. I said to the guys after the game, we are 10-2 with one more non-conference game remaining; that is the biggest thing right now.
Albany (4-10), losing for the fourth time in the last five games, was led by junior Ahmad Clark's game-high 27 points. He also owned seven rebounds and five assists. It was the seventh time in the last eight games he reached double digit scoring.
KSU started slowly and the visitors from the America East conference took advantage, using a 13-1 run capped by a three from the lleft arc by Cameron Healy at the 13:22 mark.
The Flashes chipped away at their deficit until they picked up their first lead since the opening basket of the game when Whittington connected on a layup off the glass at the 4:05 mark for a 27-25 edge. The basket ended a three-minute stretch in which the junior transfer scored eight points.
“I moved to the bench in this game.” Whittington said. “Coach wanted to do something different, but I tried to give the team energy and we rallied.”
With the Flashes holding a 34-27 lead at the 2:22 mark on a three from the left arc by Walker, Albany scored the last seven points of the period to to knot the score at halftime 34-34 following reserve Malachi De Souza's layup off the glass.
The Great Danes momentum continued into the second half as they opened with a three from the lef arc by Clark.
KSU responded to regain the lead 38-37 on a pair of baskets from Akiean Frederick, who finished the game with four points.
In the middle part of the second half, every time the Flashes would open a lead, the Danes responded to keep the game close. Their largest lead of the second stanza was eight points, 51-43, with 10:24 remaining on a pair of Whittington free throws.
Albany then outscored the Flashes 13-3 to tie the game 56-56 with 5:32 remaining on a driving layup by Antonio Rizzuto. KSU then nudged the lead out to four, 65-61, when Walker hit a conventional three-point play wih 2:25 remaining.
Again, the Great Danes came back to take their final lead of the game 66-65 with 1:49 remaining when Calrk, who scored 15 points in the second half, made both ends of a one-and-one free throw opportunity.
A three by Walker from the left arc with 43.6 seconds remaining gave the Flashes a 68-66 lead. Clark was then fouled and made both of his free throws with 24.8 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Walker’s dramatics.
The final play was to go to Walker, who moved to the right side of the arc and was fouled by the Danes Devonte Campbell. Walker cooly hit both foul shots.
The Danes had one final chance, but KSU's defense forced Clark to the sideline, where his desperation three was way off the mark
Kent State, which avenged a loss in Albany last season, completes its non-conference schedule on Monday at home against Division II Oberlin before beginning Mid-American Conference play on Saturday January 5 at home against Bowling Green.