Men's Basketball Rallies From 19 Down To Defeat Cleveland State 71-68
12/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Kent State University men's basketball team rallied from a 19-point second half deficit to defeat Cleveland State at the CSU Convocation Center here tonight (Dec. 11). DeAndre Haynes paced four Golden Flashes in double figures with 20 points, 14 coming in the second half, as Kent State won its sixth straight game.
Scott Cutley totaled 13 points and seven rebounds, Jason Edwin scored nine of his 12 points in a 24-7 second half run and Kevin Warzynski scored 10 points, including three in the final minute to help secure the victory for the Golden Flashes (8-2). The comeback matched a similar 19-point turnaround the Flashes pulled off Feb. 3, 2003 against Miami and is the biggest second-half comeback by Kent State since a 15-point reversal at SMS Nov. 29, 2003.
We went to a smaller, quicker lineup in the second half, to try and cause some turnovers and spread the floor third-year coach Jim Christian said. After a sluggish first half we wanted to attack more in the second half and the guys stepped up when we needed it.
Cleveland State (3-2) held a 10-point advantage at halftime, 39-29, a lead that quickly grew to 19 points as Kent State committed turnovers on four straight possessions to start the half that the Vikings converted into nine points. But an Edwin jumper with 16:36 to play ignited the run that took Kent State from 48-29 down to 55-53 with 9:10 to play.
In the run, Kent State held Cleveland State scoreless for more than five minutes as Edwin hit four field-goal attempts and Haynes scored three straight layups before Macrus Crenshaw capped the run with a three-pointer from the top of the key. From there, Kent State stayed within five points for the remainder of the game.
The Golden Flashes cut the lead to one on a dunk by Cutley with 7:48 to play, then again on a Haynes layup with 5:42 left. The Vikings pushed the lead back to five with just over five minutes remaining, then KSU began its drive to the lead.
Jay Youngbloods free throws and another Haynes lay-in put KSU behind 65-64 with 3:41 left, then Haynes converted a layup on a drive from the right wing and was fouled, making the free throw to tie the game at 67-67 with 2:03 remaining. The Vikings moved back in front by one with a free throw, but would not score again. Warzynskis putback of a Haynes miss put Kent State in front for the first time since the 15-minute mark of the first half, 69-68, with 0:59 to play. Haynes and Warzynski would close out the scoring with free throws in the final seconds.
One guy doesnt bring you back in a game like this, Christian said. Were a very well-rounded basketball team and needed that team effort to step up collectively and pull out a win tonight.
Crenshaw and Youngblood added seven points for Kent State, that shot 50.0 (25-of-50) percent in the contest and 15-of-26 (.577) in the second half. The Golden Flashes outscored Cleveland State 42-29 in the second half.
Cleveland State was led by 16 points from Patrick Tatham.
The Golden Flashes are off for the next 11 days, until hosting Notre Dame (Ohio) College, Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
Game Notes: Kent State had four players in double figures for the fifth time this season, winning each of the five contests... The Golden Flashes six-straight wins are the most since a 10-game streak last season... KSU shot fewer free throws than its opponent for the second straight game and still won... Kent State outscored Cleveland State in the paint 36-18 and also had a 22-18 advantage off turnovers, despite turning the ball over three more times than the Vikings... After leading for 88.5 percent of the minutes the last five games, KSU led for just 2:57, including just the last 59 seconds of the second half.
