Men's Basketball Opens Season vs. Binghamton at Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Kent State Opens 2004-05 Season at Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State University mens basketball team tips off the 2004-05 season playing Binghamton in the Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic at Marquette in Milwaukee, Wis. The Golden Flashes play in their first in-season tournament since the University Hoops Classic in 2001. KSU is playing in the Blue and Gold Classic for the second time.
The Golden Flashes are coming off a 22-9 season a year ago and return two starters and five letterwinners from a year ago.
Did You Know?
Kent State is the only MAC school to win 20 games in six consecutive seasons. In 2004-05, the Golden Flashes will look to become the first team in conference history to make seven consecutive postseason appearances. Kent State is currently tied with Miami, with six straight postseason bids.
Flash Facts
Kent State has won five straight season openers, including last years 111-52 victory against Houghton (11/21/03). The Golden Flashes last season-opening loss was an 89-73 defeat at Dayton (11/14/98). KSU has won 13 of its last 15 season lidlifters.
Kent State is one of just 15 out of 327 Division I teams to have won 20 games each of the last six seasons.
The Golden Flashes have won two straight road openers.
A Look at Binghamton
The Binghamton University Bearcats opened the 2004-05 season with a 59-46 loss at Michigan Monday (Nov. 15) in the opening round of the Preseason NIT. Binghamton got 10 points off the bench from Andre Heard and Joe White. The Bearcats were held to 27.3 percent shooting in the contest, including just 4-of-26 in the second half.
Binghamton returns four starters and eight letterwinners from a team that notched a 14-16 record a year ago, finishing fifth in the America East Conference.
The Bearcats are coached by Al Walker (Brockport 81) who owns a 51-63 record in his fifth year at Binghamton and is 193-234 in his 17th year overall.
Series History vs. Binghamton
Fridays game is the first-ever meeting between Kent State and Binghamton.
All-time, the Golden Flashes own an 1-1 record against teams currently competing in the America East. Kent States lone win against the conference was a 71-58 win against Hartford in 1993.
Kent State in the Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic
Kent State is making its second appearance in Marquettes Blue and Gold Pepsi Classic. In December 2000, Kent State went 1-1 in the tournament, losing an 89-85 overtime decision in the first contest to Cal-State Northridge before defeating Centenary 61-47 in the second game.
Flashes Triumph 81-40 in Lone Exhibition Tuneup
In its lone exhibition contest, Kent State defeated Mercyhurst 81-40 (Nov. 14). Junior center Kevin Warzynski (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Charleston Southern), a transfer from Charleston Southern playing in his first action with the Golden Flashes, scored a game-high 14 points. He was 4-of-7 from the field and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Warzynski led four Flashes in double figures, as freshman guard Marcus Crenshaw (Detroit, Mich./Mackenzie) had 12 points, hitting 3-of-5 three-point field goal attempts. Sophomore guard Demetrius Johnson (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) tallied 11 points, while junior guard Jay Youngblood (Detroit, Mich./Mott (Mich.) C.C.) added 10 points.
Freshman forward Mike Scott (Indianapolis, Ind./Northwest) grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go with five points.
Whos Back?
Kent State returns two starters and five letterwinners to the 2004-05 squad, led by junior guard DeAndre Haynes (Detroit, Mich./Southwestern). Senior guard Jason Edwin (Road Town, British Virgin Islands/Southeastern (Iowa) C.C.) also returns, along with sophomore forward Scott Cutley (Torrance, Calif./Westchester), who started a handful of games late in the season. The Golden Flashes also return junior center Nate Gerwig (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley), who missed all of last season due to a knee injury. Eight newcomers dot the Kent State roster this season.
