KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State Golden Flashes may have been without three important cogs Saturday, but they found a way to post a 61-60 win over the visiting Miami RedHawks Saturday at the M.A.C center.
Miami, which wilted down the stretch for a second straight game, had rallied for an eight-point advantage (56-48) following two Geovonie McKnight free throws with 6:28 remaining. However, the RedHawks would make just two more field goals the rest of the way.
It was still a six-point Miami lead (60-54) after Eric Washington score the visitor’s final points at 2:26 on a jumper. However, Devareaux Manley converted two jumpers at the other end and added a trey following an MU turnover.
There was 1:02 left when McKnight missed a jumper. Manley got the rebound and Ortiz got loose for a dunk with 42 seconds remaining to put KSU back in front, 61-60.
That turned out to be the final score as Miami fizzled on two last chances following a pair of time outs and two Kent State defensive strips – one by Marquiez Lawrance and one by Gary Akbar.
"We end up with 13 turnovers . . . In the last four minutes, there were three or four ... that just killed us," Miami head coach John Cooper said.
Washington missed on a 35-foot desperation three with the shot clock running down and seven seconds left. Ortiz went to the line following a Miami foul and missed with four seconds left. Moore got the rebound but could not get his desperation shot to fall.
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