Kent State University
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Western Michigan University
Men’s Basketball Hosts Broncos in Tuesday Night Cross-Divisional Matchup
2/15/2016 9:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes Video Live Stats Audio
Kent State (16-9, 7-5 MAC) will host Western Michigan (10-15, 4-8 MAC) in the first of back-to-back home games at the M.A.C. Center Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Golden Flashes will look to complete the season sweep of the Broncos after an 87-84 overtime thriller in Kalamazoo to open Mid-American Conference play on January 8.
The frontcourt of Jimmy Hall (16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Khaliq Spicer (7.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Chris Ortiz (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) has helped Kent State control play around the basket. The Flashes own a +4.1 rebounding advantage while outscoring opponents 34.8-26.7 in the paint and 12.4-9.0 on second chance opportunities.
The Golden Flashes' backcourt is led by Kellon Thomas, who has played well in his return to the court after being sidelined for all but eight games during the 2014-15 season and is averaging a career-high 12.0 points per game. Deon Edwin (5.6 ppg) and Galal Cancer (5.0 ppg) have stepped up their scoring in recent games in the absence of Xavier Pollard (12.2 ppg) and Jaylin Walker (7.8 ppg).
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan improved to 1-9 on the road with a 74-68 win over Bowling Green on Saturday. The Broncos have scored one more point (1,832) than they have allowed (1,831) this season and rank ninth in the MAC in both scoring offense (73.3 ppg) and defense (73.2 ppg). WMU does an excellent job of getting to the free throw line and ranks 34th in the country in free throws made (449) and 37th in free throws attempted (632). The Broncos' offense has relied heavily on sophomore point guard Thomas Wilder (18.2 ppg, 3.0 apg) and junior wing Tucker Haymond (16.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg). Wilder leads the MAC at 20.6 points per game in league play and shoots 42.4-percent from beyond the three-point line.
Forward Kellen McCormick (6.9 ppg) is Western Michigan's top perimeter shooter with 45 three-point field goals and a 50.0-percent three-point percentage. Center Drake LaMont (7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Anthony Avery, Jr. (7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) provide an inside presence for the Broncos.
Series History
• Kent State owns a 60-56 record all-time vs. Western Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with an 87-84 overtime victory in Kalamazoo on January 5.
• Kent State is 37-16 as the home team and has won 8 of the last 9 meetings at the M.A.C. Center.
• Western Michigan left with a 75-59 win in its last visit to Kent on January 23, 2014.
• Head coach Rob Senderoff is 3-3 vs. Western Michigan.
• The teams have split the six contests that have needed overtime, with Kent State winning the most recent at the M.A.C. Center on Feb. 4, 2012.
FLASHback to Last Meeting
• Kent State hung on for an 87-84 road win in overtime over Western Michigan to start MAC play January 5, 2016.
• The Golden Flashes led for almost the entire game, but a three-pointer by Thomas Wilder with :14 left in regulation tied the game at 76-76 and Xavier Pollard's shot missed at the buzzer and sent the game to overtime.
• Tied 78-78 in overtime, Khaliq Spicer gave the Flashes the lead for good with a putback dunk. Deon Edwin followed with a tough finish in the lane and Pollard jumped the passing lane for steal and breakaway lay-in to give KSU a 6-point lead with 1:38 remaining.
• Western Michigan got back to within three points, but missed three-point attempts on consecutive possessions while Edwin split a pair of free throws and Marvin Jones added two more at the charity stripe to put the game away.
• Kent State dominated play around the basket and outscored the Broncos, 50-24, in the paint.
• Jimmy Hall led the way with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Chris Ortiz added 15 points and 6 rebounds
• The Flashes also held a 38-24 advantage in bench scoring. Xavier Pollard led the reserves with 14 points to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Marvin Jones scored a career-high 12 points and Khaliq Spicer added 8 points and 5 rebounds.
• Kent State forced 19 turnovers and converted them into a 28-7 edge in points off turnovers.
• Thomas Wilder led Western Michigan with 28 points, but was just 1-for-6 from the three-point line.
• Tucker Haymond added 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Kellen McCormick came off the bench to score 16 points.
Radio
Ty Linder and David Carducci will bring you the action on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel and 640 WHLO.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes are back in action at the M.A.C. Center for the first of two matchups against rival Akron on Friday, February 19. Tip-off has is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.
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