The decision secured the Golden Flashes' first road win in Mid-American Conference play this season. KSU raised its record to 11-9, 5-3 MAC. Central Michigan fell to 13-8, 2-6 MAC.
Walker tallied his . . .
Meanwhile, Zabo's 22-point performance marked the senior guard's fifth consecutive game of 20-plus points.
After going into halftime down 41-32, Kent State quickly took control after returning to the floor. The offense was ignited by an early three by Danny Pippen, while the defense held the Chippewas to just 20-percent shooting in the first 10 minutes.
"(The difference) was the defensive effort in the second half," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "We didn't guard the way we need to in the first half. Credit (Central Michigan). They came out with a ton of energy. ... But in the second half, we started really defending, and in doing so we got some easy baskets."
Back-to-back three pointers by Walker from the right corner at 16:35 and 16:15 of the second half pulled Kent State within a bucket. Zabo finally tied the game with a driving layup at 15:44. The Flashes then took the lead for good at 49-47 when a De La Rosa blocked shot turned into a transition jumper by Walker with 15:15 remaining.
"(Walker) is a mentally tough kid," said Senderoff. "He is willing to take tough shots. He did that. ... But he also defended and rebounded."
Along with 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, Walker finished with a final line that included 21 points and eight rebounds.
Adonis De La Rosa gave KSU a trio of double-digit scorers, finishing with 14 points. The 7-foot center added 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
The game's turning point came just inside the two-minute mark when Central's Shawn Roundtree, who began the day ranked second in the MAC in foul shooting at 86 percent, missed the front end of a one-and-one. Two free throws by Roundtree at that point would have pulled the Chippewas to within two points. Instead, a Zabo three pushed KSU's lead to 74-67 with 1:23 on the clock.
Kent State sealed the win in the final minute as Zabo, De La Rosa, Jalen Avery, Desmond Ridenour, and Mitch Peterson combined to go 10-of-12 from the foul line.
"This is tough," said Senderoff. "It's tough to win in this league. We are going to enjoy the ride home and then get ready for the next one."
NEXT:
Kent State hosts MAC-undefeated Buffalo Tuesday. Central Michigan entertains Northern Illinois. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy KSU Athletics)