• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

Kent State weathers Akron comeback bid

2/20/2016

 
'Physical' Flashes prevail in centennial meeting
PictureKellon Thomas was one of two KSU players with 22 points (SGWarren/BMP)
By EVAN MEYER
KENT, OHIO – The Kent State Golden Flashes used an 11-1 run midway through the second half to seize control and went on to a 85-76 victory over the Akron Zips Friday night before a national television audience and sellout crowd of 6,327 at the MAC Center. 

With the victory, Kent State (18-9, 9-5 MAC) has won three of its last four and has moved to within one game of the Zips for first place in the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division.

“I am really proud of our guys the way they competed tonight.” KSU head coach Rob Senderoff said. “Probably our best game of the year over 40 minutes.”


Senior Khaliq Spicer and . . . 

PictureKhaliq Spicer defends as Isaiah Johnson drives to the hoop. Johnson led all scorers with 24 points. (SGWarren/BMP)
. . . Junior Kellon Thomas led the Flashes with 22 points each. Spicer added eight rebounds and a blocked shot, while Thomas had two assists and two steals.

After winning seven consecutive games, Akron (21-6, 10-4) has lost two of its last three -- both coming on the road.

“Our finesse did not beat their physical strength tonight.” UA head man Keith Dambrot said.

Junior Isiah Johnson led all scorers in the contest with 24 points, adding nine rebounds, two assists and a steal. Fellow Junior Kwan Cheatham Jr. had 17 points and three helpers, while sophomore guard Antino Jackson had 14 with six boards.




PictureNoah Robotham gets an unhelpful hand from Kellon Thomas while driving the lane. (SGWarren/BMP)
There's a certain electricity when the the local rivals meet in any sport, but the atmosphere Friday was super-charged on a night marking the 100th anniversary of meetings between the two basketball programs.

KSU broke open a close game late in the first half when it went on a 14-4 run to open a nine-point lead, 36-27, at the 4:05 mark on a conventional three-point play  by Chris Ortiz.

The lead expanded to 11 on two occasions, the last being 40-29 at the 1:53 mark on a driving layup by freshman Jalen Avery, and KSU went into halftime with a 10-point advantage, 42-32.

Kent State shot 54.5 percent from the field (18-of-33) in the opening 20 minutes. In addition, it held a 19-17 rebound edge and turned the ball over just three times.

At the start of the second half, the Flashes opened their largest lead of the game at 15-points, 48-33, at the 18:29 mark on a contested layup by junior Deon Edwin.

The Zips then began to work their way back into the game. Slowly and steadily, they gnawing away at the deficit until they managed to forge a 61-all tie at the 7:03 mark when Cheatham connected on a three from the left arc.




PictureJimmy Hall owned 17 points and eight rebounds for the winning Flashes. (SGWarren/BMP)
One of the keys to UA’s comeback was the play of freshman guiard Rob Williams. Playing on two very sore ankles, Williams scored all seven of his points in the stretch.

Kent State, however, put the game away with an 11-1 run over a span of 3;26 to open a 73-62 advantage at the 3:06 mark on a layup by Spicer. The closest UA would get for the remainder of the game was five points on three occasions -- the last being 81-76 on a three from sophomore guard Noah Robotham.

KSU made 11-of-12 free throws in the closing moments to thwart any late UA rally and went on to victory, improving its home mark to 12-2.

Among the key stats in the game:
1) UA went 10-of-33 from beyond the arc with Robatham and senior Reggie McAdams going 1-of-13 and scoring a combined five points
2) KSU shot 51.7 percent over the 40 minutes (30-of-58)
3) The Flashes had 12 offensive rebounds and had 18 second chance points.


When asked about the atmosphere and the sold out crowd, Senderoff said, “It was a great college basketball game. It’s a great rivalry and generally they have been great games, and tonight was not any different,”

Both teams are back in action on Tuesday as KSU travels to Buffalo while Akron heads to Miami.

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    UPCOMING GAMES
    All times Eastern

    ​

    MAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS
    -- Final - 2022 -- 
    MAC EAST
    OHIO 7-1
    BUFFALO 5-3
    BOWLING GREEN 5-3

    MIAMI 4-4
    KENT STATE 4-4
    AKRON 1-7

    MAC WEST
    TOLEDO 5-3

    EASTERN MICHIGAN 5-3
    WESTERN MICHIGAN 4-4
    ​BALL STATE 3-5
    CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3-5

    NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2-6

    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
    CLICK HERE

    ​





    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly