Kent State Defeats Florida State 69-59 For First Win Against ACC Since 1960
11/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - It took 44 years, but the Kent State University mens basketball team knocked off an ACC team with a 69-59 victory against Florida State in the third round of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times Challenge. The Golden Flashes got 14 points apiece from Armon Gates and DeAndre Haynes, as Kent State picked up its first win against an ACC team since a 79-65 victory against Clemson in 1960.
Leading by eight points with 3:43 to play, Florida State cut the lead to four points, 61-57, as Kent State went scoreless for three minutes. But after Jason Edwin grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, Gates was fouled with 0:42 left. He then made the first of four straight free throws that moved KSU back in front by eight, 65-57 with 27 seconds remaining.
The Seminoles got a quick layup to get back within six, but after fouling to stop the clock, Haynes made four straight free throws of his own to ice the game. Kent State made 10-of-10 free throws in the final five minutes of the contest. The undersized Golden Flashes, who outrebounded Florida State 39-30 in the contest, grabbed five rebounds to the Seminoles one in the final 2-1/2 minutes after Kevin Warzynski, KSUs tallest player, fouled out.
For the second straight game, Kent State had five players in double figures in scoring. Led by Gates and Haynes, Warzynski added 13, Edwin tallied 12 and Cutley chipped in with 11. Edwin and Cutley also recorded a game-high seven rebounds, while Haynes had a season-high eight assists and did not commit a turnover.
Kent State overcame 33.3 (9-of-27) percent shooting in the second half, helped by 13 second chance points coming off 13 offensive rebounds. The Golden Flashes also shot more than 80 percent from the free throw line for the third time this season, converting 14-of-17 (.824) chances from the charity stripe.
The Golden Flashes took a 38-32 lead into the half, thanks to 10 points from Edwin and nine points from Warzynski. Edwin canned a pair of three pointers in the half, the first of which capped a 10-4 run midway through the half that pushed KSU to a 12-point lead, 23-11, the biggest lead of the half. Gates also added seven points coming off the bench for KSU.
Kent State is next in action when it closes the Corpus Christi-Caller Times Challenge, tomorrow, Nov. 28, at 1 p.m. CT, against Shawnee State.
Game Notes: The Golden Flashes held an ACC team under 60 points for the first time in program history... For the second consecutive game, Kent State did not trail... After not having more than three people score in double figures in the first three games of the season, Kent State has had five in double figures in each of the last two... The Golden Flashes are now 2-1 in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times Challenge... Gates matched a season high with 14 points, while Haynes 14 points are a season-best.
