Swarming Flashes snag tourney title, NCAA spot
KSU defense helps end 17-game Toledo win streak
BY MIKE SMITH
CLEVELAND, OH -- There are multiple reasons why Kent State led the MAC in field goal percentage defense this year, and KSU flashed some serious samples of those reasons Saturday when the No. 2 seed knocked off No. 1 seed Toledo 93-78 in the MAC Tournament championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Kent State (28-6) limited Toledo (27-7) to 78 points (nearly seven points below its season average) and 42.4 percent from the field. The Rockets hit an average of 49.9 percent for the season.
Meanwhile, with Kent State shooting 55.7 percent overall and . . .
CLEVELAND, OH -- There are multiple reasons why Kent State led the MAC in field goal percentage defense this year, and KSU flashed some serious samples of those reasons Saturday when the No. 2 seed knocked off No. 1 seed Toledo 93-78 in the MAC Tournament championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Kent State (28-6) limited Toledo (27-7) to 78 points (nearly seven points below its season average) and 42.4 percent from the field. The Rockets hit an average of 49.9 percent for the season.
Meanwhile, with Kent State shooting 55.7 percent overall and . . .
Sincere Carry was part of a particularly strong second half performance by Kent State. (MVSmith/MRO file) . . . 41.7 percent from long distance, the Flashes recorded their most points since defeating Concord University (106-56) in mid-December. It was the sixth straight win for KSU, which broke Toledo's 17-game winning skein.
Toledo lost two of its first three games in MAC play before embarking on its that win streak. The first setback was against Ball State, which UT later avenged. Toledo could not, however, reverse the decision against KSU in Saturday's second meeting. Consequently, another Rockets streak could continue.
Despite a ton of recent success, Toledo has not reached the NCAA tournament since 1980. It would take an at-large bid on Sunday to make it. Akron, meanwhile, earned an automatic berth and is back in the dance for the first time since 2017.
Five different KSU players reached double figures, with Sincere Carry leading the way. He scored 26 points, often answering big Toledo baskets with a score of his own at the other end. Seventeen of his points came in the second half to help the Flashes fight off multiple Rocket charges. Forward Chris Payton, who hit all seven of his attempts from the field, scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half.
KSU guard Malique Jacobs registered a double-double with 18 points and 13 caroms. Miryne Thomas and Jalen Sullinger added 11 apiece.
MAC Player of the Year RayJ Dennis and senior forward Seth Millner paced the Toledo attack with 25 apiece. The latter also had 10 rebounds. Raheim Moss added 13 points.
Toledo jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, and the two teams exchanged leads before Vancameron Davis kicked off a 14-0 Flashes run with back-to-back treys. The Flashes remained in from until Dennis hit two free throws with just over 34 seconds left. Kent State quickly regained the edge, 35-34, when Jacobs scored on a putback that just beat the buzzer.
After connecting on just 39.3 percent from the field before intermission, Toledo would hit 45.2 percent in the second stanza. Kent State, however, caught fire and would make 71.4 percent of its second half shots. That included six-of-nine from beyond the arc.
The Rockets were able to stay relatively close for a while, and trailed 60-59 midway though the final frame. Carry then hit a three and Payton scored on two drives to get KSU rolling. When Sullinger capped a 7-0 Flashes run with a triple at 4:02, Kent State owned a 78-67 advantage.
Toledo managed just two field goals and 11 points after that. Kent State added 15 more to its total.
Toledo lost two of its first three games in MAC play before embarking on its that win streak. The first setback was against Ball State, which UT later avenged. Toledo could not, however, reverse the decision against KSU in Saturday's second meeting. Consequently, another Rockets streak could continue.
Despite a ton of recent success, Toledo has not reached the NCAA tournament since 1980. It would take an at-large bid on Sunday to make it. Akron, meanwhile, earned an automatic berth and is back in the dance for the first time since 2017.
Five different KSU players reached double figures, with Sincere Carry leading the way. He scored 26 points, often answering big Toledo baskets with a score of his own at the other end. Seventeen of his points came in the second half to help the Flashes fight off multiple Rocket charges. Forward Chris Payton, who hit all seven of his attempts from the field, scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half.
KSU guard Malique Jacobs registered a double-double with 18 points and 13 caroms. Miryne Thomas and Jalen Sullinger added 11 apiece.
MAC Player of the Year RayJ Dennis and senior forward Seth Millner paced the Toledo attack with 25 apiece. The latter also had 10 rebounds. Raheim Moss added 13 points.
Toledo jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, and the two teams exchanged leads before Vancameron Davis kicked off a 14-0 Flashes run with back-to-back treys. The Flashes remained in from until Dennis hit two free throws with just over 34 seconds left. Kent State quickly regained the edge, 35-34, when Jacobs scored on a putback that just beat the buzzer.
After connecting on just 39.3 percent from the field before intermission, Toledo would hit 45.2 percent in the second stanza. Kent State, however, caught fire and would make 71.4 percent of its second half shots. That included six-of-nine from beyond the arc.
The Rockets were able to stay relatively close for a while, and trailed 60-59 midway though the final frame. Carry then hit a three and Payton scored on two drives to get KSU rolling. When Sullinger capped a 7-0 Flashes run with a triple at 4:02, Kent State owned a 78-67 advantage.
Toledo managed just two field goals and 11 points after that. Kent State added 15 more to its total.
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