With the win, Kent State improves to 8-1 overall, the program's best start since the 2013-14 season, while Wright State fell to 4-6.
Senior Jaylin Walker led the Flashes with 26 points to go with seven rebounds and two steals as three other Kent State players reached double figures on the evening. Senior Jalen Avery had 15 points, junior Philip Whittington added 12 points and six rebounds, and junior Antonio Williams finished with 11 points and a game-high five assists.
The Flashes jumped out to an 8-5 lead shooting 4-of-5 from the field over the first five minutes of the game as Whittington contributed with back-to-back buckets. After four minutes of both teams trading long-range shots, back-to-back 3-pointers from Walker and Avery put Kent State ahead 19-14. The Raiders offense answered back after it used an 11-0 run over 4:13 left to give Wright State a 25-19 advantage.
A Wright State turnover, followed by a layup from Whittington, closed the Raiders run making it 27-21 in the Raiders' advantage with 5:32 left in the first half.
The Flashes answered back with a run of their own over 3:51 of play as Kent State took back the lead after an 11-0 run, which made it 32-27. The Raiders attempted to respond again, but the Flashes would close out the opening half after a layup by sophomore BJ Duling added to a Kent State 5-2 run that gave the Flashes a 39-34 lead at the break.
Leading the opening half in scoring was Walker with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. Whittington and Avery both added eight points. As a team, Kent State shot 17-of-33 (51.5 percent) from the field and 4-of-11 (36.4 percent) from downtown, while the Raiders ended the half 11-of-22 (50 percent) from the field, and 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from 3-point range. The Flashes won the battle of the boards in the first half, 17-11.
After a layup by Williams extended the Flashes' lead to 42-34 in opening minutes of the second half, the Raiders regained the lead, 46-42, during a 12-0 run over 4:31 of play. Wright State threatened to extend its run, but a huge block by Williams set up the Flashes' first points in over five minutes of play. That closed the Raiders' lead to 46-44. A driving layup by Avery squared the score at 46 with 13 minutes left to play.
As the two teams traded baskets, a timely 3-pointer by Avery cut Wright State's lead to 66-64 with 5:27 left to play. The Raider's then used a 5-1 run before a technical call on Wright State sent Walker to the line and cut Wright State's lead to 71-68 with 4:07 left to play.
A crucial steal by Williams set led to a fastbreak layup followed by a jumper on the next possession, helping the Flashes take a 77-74 lead with 1:17 to go. Avery added a late jump shot en route to the Flashes' 83-76 win.
For the game, the Flashes shot 52.6 percent (30-of-57) from the field and 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) from beyond the arc. Wright State finished the contest shooting 49 percent (25-of-51) from the floor and went 10-22 (45.5 percent) from deep.
Kent State won the battle of the boards and brought down a total 31 rebounds to Wright State's 26. The Flashes' bench was a major contributor in the game and scored 35 points to the Raider's six.
Kent State will take a seven-day break for finals week and will be back in action for a road game on Dec. 15 against Louisville.
(Courtesy of KSU Athletics)