Kent State University
3-0
Hiram College
1-0
Men's Basketball Blasts Hiram to Begin Gulf Coast Showcase, 111-55
11/18/2016 10:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University men's basketball team (3-0) started off the Gulf Coast Showcase Friday night with a home game over fellow Portage County institution Hiram, taking a 111-55 win.
The Golden Flashes scored over 110 points for the first time in over a decade. The 56-point win margin is the third highest in program history, and the highest since 1998. Kent State had 10 blocks, reaching double digits for the first time in program history. Kent State secured 58 rebounds, the program's best mark in this century.
"First of all, they are a really good Division-III program, this is a step up for them and they were overmatched, but they're a good program and well coached," noted head coach Rob Senderoff. "Now we head down to Florida for these three games, these are three good teams that we are going to play. We have to try to know what helped us be successful, and focus on getting prepared for the next game. The game has a way of humbling you. We've got to stay humble and focused and understand we have a tough road ahead."
For the third straight night, Jimmy Hall led the Flashes in scoring and rebounding. He scored 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor and 6-for-7 shooting from the foul line. He had nine rebounds, five on offense, and a season-best two blocks. Jalen Avery led the team with a career –high seven assists. He also matched a career high of four boards.
The Flashes jumped out to an immediate lead and never looked back Friday. KSU scored the first seven points of the game, five from freshman Mitch Peterson, and eventually took a 25-5 lead within nine minutes. Hiram stayed even with the home team for a three-minute stretch, but Kent State closed out the half on a 24-14 run that put them up 30 at the break.
In the second half, The Flashes built a 41-point margin before the first official timeout at 69-28. From there, Hiram worked their deficit down to 33 points, but could not get any closer. Kent State reached the 56-point margin with a minute left to secure one of the most dominant victories in program history.
Overall, Kent State shot 48.1 percent from the floor (38-for-79) and 40.7 percent from 3-point range (11-for-27). Hiram was held to 33.3 percent shooting (23-for-69). The rebounding margin was over 20 for the second night in a row, with Kent State ahead 58-32.
Including Hall, five players scored in double figures. Jaylin Walker and Jerrelle DeBerry each scored 13 points on a combined 9-for-18 shooting. It was DeBerry's career-high with Kent State. Peterson shot 4-for-7 for 12 points, while Deon Edwin (featured earlier in the day on ESPN's Outside the Lines) scored 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
The record-setting block party was led by freshman Danny Pippen, who swatted six shots. He was one away from tying the school record and is just the fourth player in school history to reach six blocks. Adonis De La Rosa and Alonzo Walker each scored nine points and secured eight rebounds, both of which are career highs.
Senior Jon Fleming played seven minutes and erupted the M.A.C. Center with his first career 3-pointer. Leo Edwards and Desmond Ridenour each scored four points, while Kevin Zabo wrapped up the box score with seven points and four assists.
The Flashes will travel to Fort Myers, Florida over the weekend to continue the Gulf Coast Showcase, with South Dakota scheduled Monday at 5 p.m.
