Men's Basketball Begins Season Against YSU

Saturday, November 11

Akron, Ohio

9 p.m.

Kent State University

Youngstown State

Men's Basketball Begins Season Against YSU

11/10/2017 10:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball

KENT STATE GAME NOTES

GOLDEN FLASHES PODCAST PREVIEW

KENT, Ohio - The Kent State University men's basketball team opens the 2017-18 season in the Northeast Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer Doubleheader at Akron against the Youngstown State Penguins.

The Game
Kent State Golden Flashes - 0-0 Youngstown State Penguins - 0-0 Tip: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 at 9 p.m. Venue: Rhodes Arena, capacity - 5,500
Follow Along
Live Stats	Live Video	Live Audio	TV: ESPN3	Radio: WHLO/IHeart
Flash Facts
- The Kent State University men's basketball team enters the 2017-18 season with seven returners and a slew of newcomers, both freshman and transfers. - The returners include three starters in Jaylin Walker, Jalen Avery and Mitch Peterson. Jaylin Walker is the team's highest scoring returner, fresh off a Mid-American Conference Tournament MVP performance. Danny Pippen and Adonis De La Rosa return to the front court, while Kevin Zabo and Desmond Ridenour bring senior leadership at the guard position. - Kent State will have to replace the production of two graduated starters in Jimmy Hall and Deon Edwin. Hall leaves after earning All-MAC First Team honors for the third straight year and setting a single season total points record at Kent State. Deon Edwin ended the year on the All-MAC Defensive Team. 2017-18 will also mark the debut of Taishaun Johnson, who sat out last season after transferring from South Alabama. In his first full season of college basketball, Johnson averaged 12.5 points per game as a freshman. - The incoming class is highlighted by freshman BJ Duling, who was a contender for Mr. Basketball in Ohio at Newark HS. Akiean Frederick, Jonathan Nwankwo and Ryan Bernstein will add depth as transfers. Kain Harris, Philip Whitington and Chris Johnson will practice with the team but sit out the year as transfers. - The nonconference schedule is highlighted by a home game against Oregon State on Dec. 21. Kent State will also travel to Xavier and compete in the Savannah Invitational. Other nonconference home games include Ohio Christian, Mississippi Valley State, Southeastern Louisiana, Cleveland State and Northwestern. - The Golden Flashes finished last season at 22-14 and made its sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament, ending its season against the third-seeded UCLA Bruins in Sacramento. - The Golden Flashes returned to the tournament for the first time since 2008.