Flashes Fall in Close Battle to McGill
8/14/2017 8:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – The Kent State University men's basketball team dropped the final game of its foreign tour to McGill University, 85-79. Kent State finishes the three-game set on its tour 2-1.
Thoughts from @CoachSendy after a competitive game in Costa Rica pic.twitter.com/dmODIAYLDN
— KentStMBB (@KentStMBB) August 15, 2017
Mitch Peterson led the scoring effort for the Golden Flashes with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. He also chipped in two rebounds and two assists. Danny Pippen recorded another double-double with 13 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. Jalen Avery totaled 13 points, three assists and two steals.
McGill came out and proved to be the toughest test for the Flashes during this trip, having previously taken top-25 SMU to overtime this offseason. McGill hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter, allowing them to build a 17-3 lead. After a rough start, Kent State found its rhythm getting to the basket, finishing the quarter on a 13-5 run, including nine straight points. Having bounced back from the rough start, Kent State entered the second quarter down, 22-16.
Kent State kept the pressure on in the second, starting with a corner 3-pointer from Pippen to cut the deficit in half. The Flashes tied the game at 29-29 after four minutes on a breakaway layup from Peterson. The sharp shooting from McGill kept the Flashes from taking the lead, as the Canadian side finished the half 8-for-14 from outside. Kent State won the quarter but entered the half down, 41-38.
Mcgill started the second half strong and rebuilt their lead to 49-41 in the first few minutes. The momentum was snatched back quickly, when Peterson hit a 3-pointer and Taishaun Johnson earned three points on a layup and foul. Another 3-pointer kept Kent State at bay, but the Flashes took their first lead at 55-54 on another clutch Johnson bucket. The game was tied headed into the fourth quarter, 60 all.
The final quarter started off with a defensive stop and a catch-and-shoot BJ Duling 3-pointer. McGill answered back with hot shooting of their own, and eventually built a 75-67 lead with five minutes left. With their backs against the wall, Kent State ripped off an 8-2 run, punctuated by a Peterson 3-pointer on the wing that triggered a McGill timeout with 1:41 to go. McGill attacked the basket on the next two possessions, rebuilding a cushion they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
Overall, Kent State shot 45 percent (30-for-67) from the floor. The Flashes held themselves to eight turnovers and earned 22 free throw attempts.
Johnson had a strong offensive outing, scoring 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Duling finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Philip Whittington and Desmond Ridenour each chipped in five points.
With the competition portion of the foreign tour complete, the men's basketball team will head to the pacific coast for the remainder of the week. Follow @KentStMBB on Twitter to keep tabs on the team.
