KENT, OHIO – The Kent State Golden Flashes pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2017-18 Mid-American Conference basketball season as they defeated the Buffalo Bulls 82-79 Tuesday night at the MAC Center
Kent State (11-10, 6-3 MAC) came back from an 18-point deficit in the first half, putting together a 20-4 run over the final 6:25 of the second half to pull off the victory.
With their win, the Flashes . . .
“It was a great win for us tonight.” KSU head coach Rob Senderoff said “Especially being down 18 in the first half and 13 at halftime. We continued to battle back. We had tremendous fight and reslilency and toughness.”
Sophomore Danny Pippen led all scorers in the contest with a career high 21 points, including two on a layup with 35.7 seconds remaining in regulation to give KSU the lead for good.
When asked about the go-ahead basket Pippen said, “We made some big shots at the end of the game. We (the team) all made big shots and we started clicking at the end.”
Junior Adonis De La Rosa added 20 points with six rebounds and five assists, which included the pass to Pippen for the go-ahead layup . Senior Jalen Avery had 13 with six helpers, while junior Jaylin Walker struggled from the field but still managed to score 13.
Buffalo (16-8, 8-1) suffered its first loss in MAC play and saw a nine-game winning streak come to an end. UB had four players in double figures, led by junior Jeremy Harris, who had 20 points. Fellow junior Nick Perkins, coming off the bench, added 15 with three assists, Sophomore Davonta Jordan and senior Wes Clark each had 12, with Jordan having five assists and Clark four.
Each team owned one half, and Buffalo took control early.
After KSU scored the first basket of the game, Harris scored seven unanswered points to get the Bulls rolling.
Their lead stretched out to double-digits after the Flashes closed the deficit to one 22-21 on a three pointer by Pippen from the left arc. UB used a 19-4 run to open its largest lead of the game at 18-points on two occasions. The last was 43-25 on a running layup by Perkins. who scored 12 in the first half. Buffalo went into halftime enjoying a 47-34 lead.
In the opening 20 minutes, Buffalo shot a sizzling 69 percent from the field (20-of-29) and went four-of eight from three-point range.
KSU did not shoot poorly in the opening half, going 13-of-28 but its leading scorer, Kevin Zabo, was saddled with foul trouble.
In the second half, UB maintained its double digit lead early in the period, as the visitors made enough shots to blunt any run by the Golden flashes.
A turning point came in the game when KSU got into the one-and-one free throw opportunity midway through the half.
The Blue and Gold took full advantage making 12 consecutive shots from the charity stripe to narrow the margin. In fact, KSU made only one field goal (the winning basket by Pippen) over the final 6;12 of the contest.
With UB leading 73-64 with 6:14 remaining in regulation, Kent State made its final push to victory. KSU outscored the East Division leaders 18-6 to grab its first victory in the last four meetings against the Bulls at home.
After Pippen’s layup gave the home team the lead, UB missed a pair of shots -- the first by Perkins from the left wing, then an attempt by Clark on a drive to the basket.
Buffalo had a third chace to regain the lead, however Massinburg’s three-point try from the left corner was no good. Avery grabbed the biggest rebound of the game and was then fouled by Clark. As the senior guard was being fouled by Clark, Perkins grabbed Walker’s jersey and tempers flared. Both players received technical fouls and were ejected from the game.
It was a mixed ending to what was a thrilling climax.
Give Buffalo credit tonight.” Senderoff said. “They came in here with a record they had for a reason.”
NEXT:
Both teams return to action this weekend, with Buffalo returning home to battle Western Michigan. The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan on the road 71-57.
KSU travels to Bowling Green to face the Falcons, who defeated Ohio at home 66-50.
NOTES:
>> Kent State only turned the ball over twice in the second half (and 10 times for the game).
>> The hosts excelled at the line, going 18-for-20 in the second half (22-of-25 for the game).
>> Buffalo held just two offensive rebounds for the game. KSU won the battle of the boards 30-22, despite UB shooting 55.6 percent over the 40 minutes.