KENT, OHIO – The Kent State Golden Flashes came back from a 17-point deficit in the second half to nip Toledo 87-85 in overtime Tuesday evening at the MAC Center.
Kent State (15-4, 4-2) picked up its third consecutive victory and fourth in the last five games, improving its home record to 10-2 overall and 3-1 in MAC play.
“It was a great college basketball game” KSU head coach Rob Senderoff said. “The resiliency we showed down 17 was just unbelieveable. Just great toughness.”
UT tied the score 85-85 on a pair of free throws from sophomore Marreon Jackson, but a short jumper in the lane by senior Jaylin Walker with 26.8 seconds remaining proved to be the winning basket.
The visitors had three chances to tie or take the lead. However, they missed them all, including their final chance at the end of the game when senior Jaelan Sanford’s 3-point attempt from the left arc hit the rim and fell away.
Walker tied a career high with 36 points, scoring 22 in the second half and four in overtime. He had 36 in a76-72 win at Detroit Mercy on November 28th. Senior Aklean Frederick came off the bench to score 12 points and freshman Anthony Roberts added 10.
Toledo (15-4, 3-3 MAC) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end after starting the conference seasons with consecutive losses to Ball State and at Buffalo.
“I think we had some turnovers down the stretch in the last seen minutes agiant their pressure, but give Walker credit.” Rockets head coah Tod Kowalczyk said. “I thought Willie Jackson , , , made some unbelievably tough shots.”
Senior Luke Knapke had 22 points, shooting 9-of-18 from the field while pulling down six rebounds. Sanford added 17 with five rebounds. Navigato had 16 with four caroms and two assists, and sophomore Marreon Jackson had 15 also with four rebounds and added seven assists.
The Midnight Blue and Gold scored the game’s first seven points, hitting five-of-six from the field including three from beyond the arc as they held the lead for entire first half. UT was led by Knapke who had 15 points going six-of-eight from the field.
KSU played uphill in the opening 20 minutes and tied the score 32-32 at the 3:23 mark on a layup by Roberts, who had a career high 17 in the MAC-opening loss to Bowling Green. Toledo then closed the period out-scoring the Flashes 11-4 to open a seven -point lead at halftime, 43-36.
UT’s lead was fueled by shooting 58.6 percent from the field (17-of-29) going 6-of-12 from three-point range
The second half began just like the first for the Rockets as they opened their largest lead of the game, 55-38, with 15;55 remaining on a driving layup by Marreon Jackson.
The lead remained at double digits reaching as many as 15 (73-58) with 6:59 remaining on a putback by Navigato.
From that point on, KSU took control of the game The Flashes went on a 19-4 run to close the margin to 78-77 with 1;16 remaining on a layup by Roberts. After Willie Jackson made one of two free throws to give the Rockets a 79-77 lead, Walker tied the score 79-79 with 37.9 seconds remaining on a layup.
Toledo had a chance to win the game in regulation, but when Marreon Jackson drove to the basket, his shot missed everything. A putback by Knapke also missed..
UT was called for a shot clock violation with 2.9 seconds remaining. It was the first of two 30-second violations that were crucial in the outcome. Walker’s desperation shot at the end of regulation missed and the game was extended by five minutes.
In the extra session, Samford made a pair of baskets -- the last being a driving layup with 3:50 remaining to give the Rockets their last lead of the game 83-81.
Walker tied the game (83-83 with a pair of free throws at the 1:54 mark before a steal by Williamson and the slam dunk by Williams to give the Flashes their first lead.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak to the Rockets by KSU and was their second straight at home.
Statistically, UT shot 52.2 percent from the field (35-of-67) and won the rebound battle 38-35. Toledo had 22 assists to KSU’s 16. However, 16 Rocket turnovers led to 23 Flashes points.
Kent State shot 45.6 percent from the floor (31-of-68) and was 13-of-34 from beyond the arc, along with five blocked shots.
The Flashes are back in action on Friday night as Nationally tanked Buffalo comes to the MAC Center. Toledo returns home to face Central Michigan, who lost at Akron Tuesday night 70-67.