KENT, Ohio – On a night when Kent State (15-9, 10-4 MAC) made just 55.6 percent of its free throws, the Flashes connected on 58.8 percent from beyond the arc to power a 64-62 win over Akron (16-7, 9-4 MAC) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The victory gave KSU sole possession of third place in the Mid-American Conference and a season sweep of rival UA It was the Flashes sixth straight MAC win and eighth triumph in the last nine games.
Kent State started the game hot, drilling three of its first four three-pointers to jump out to a 21-12 lead. The Zips pulled close before the break, but KSU led 30-25 going into the halftime locker room.
The intensity picked up in the second half as the two teams fought and scrapped for the Wagon Wheel. Justyn Hamilton secured a loose ball offensive rebound that led to a Sincere Carry three with 13 minutes left to give the Flashes a 47-43 edge. The next six minutes were extremely physical with little scoring until Giovanni Santiago hit a mid-range jumper to break the 49-49 tie.
The Zips took their only lead of the second half on an Enrique Freeman and-one on the following possession, but Santiago came down and knocked down another three to give Kent State a 54-52 lead. Freeman finished with a game-high 21 points, all of which came in the second period.
Kent State led by four, 65-61, before Akron hit a three with 19 seconds to play, making it a one-point game. Carry was fouled with 13 second left and made one of two free throws. With no timeouts the Zips ran the length of the floor, but could not make a game-tying jumper attempt and the Flashes picked up the win, 66-64.
Carry led the Flashes with 19 points, while Santiago scored 15 points. The duo combined to go 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. KSU has registered double digit threes in each of the last three games. It was Santiago's third-straight game with 15 or more points, and it was Carry's twelfth game this season with 18 or more points.
Malique Jacobs added his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He also tied a season-high with four steals.
Enrique Freeman hit 8 of 10 shots from the field to lead Akron with 21 points and added 13 rebounds. Ali Ali and Bryan Trimble Jr. also reached double figures with 11 points apiece.