Men's Basketball Triumphs Over UTPA 82-70
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- The Kent State University men's basketball team even its record at 2-2 with an 82-70 victory against Texas-Pan American in the Golden Flashes' final game in the South Padre Island Invitational here today (Nov. 26). Senior Jay Youngblood paced the Golden Flashes with a season-high 26 points, including 11 points in a crucial 20-9 run in the second half that pushed Kent State to victory.
The Golden Flashes led 53-51 with 11:16 remaining when Youngblood began the run with a jumper from the right wing. Kent State, playing much of the second half in foul trouble, had many younger players on the floor during the stretch of 7:21 that saw the KSU lead grow from two points to 13.
Freshman point guard Jordan Mincy capped the run with a fast break layup off a steal with 3:36 left in the game. The Golden Flashes also received contributions in the run from freshman Julian Sullinger, first-year junior college transfer Omni Smith and sophomore Mike Scott, who scored a career-high 15 points in the contest.
Scott, who provided a spark for Kent State in the first half, finished 4-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-3 from three-point range, matching last season's total of three-point field goals in today's game. Kevin Warzynski finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Youngblood matched him with seven rebounds. Isaac Knight had eight points and six rebounds in just 14 minutes played.
The Golden Flashes pressure defense forced Texas-Pan American (2-3) into 22 turnovers and Kent State registered 14 steals, the most since posting 15 against Notre Dame (Ohio) College last season. KSU converted the UTPA turnovers into 31 points.
Kent State shot .567 (17-of-30) in the second half, while the Flashes limited the Broncos to 31 percent, outscoring UTPA 49-35 in the period.
The first half was dominated by runs from both teams. The Golden Flashes used an 11-0 run midway through the period to extend a 12-11 lead to 23-11. The run was capped by a three-point field goal by Scott - his second of the half - who nine of the team's points in the run.
The Broncos would battle back, though, using an 8-0 run of their own to cut back into the lead. Texas-Pan American then closed the half with a 13-4 run to take a 35-33 lead into halftime. The Broncos took the two-point edge into the break on the back of 50 percent shooting, which overcame 12 UTPA turnovers that Kent State converted into 16 points.
Scott and Jay Youngblood led the Golden Flashes with nine points each in the first half. Kent State shot just 33 percent in the first period, including 22 percent from three-point range.
The Golden Flashes are next in action when they play at Youngstown State, Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:35 p.m.
Notes: Youngblood missed his career high by three points, having scored 29 in the NIT first round at Western Kentucky last year... It was Youngblood's second 20-point game in four contests this season... He finished 11-of-18 (.611) from the field... The Golden Flashes out-rebounded UTPA 37-32, including 18-8 on the offensive glass... Knight grabbed four offensive rebounds... Mincy and DeAndre Haynes each had four steals... Kent State had three players in double figures for the second time this season... Scott's previous career high was nine points, matched yesterday against Rutgers... He had nine by halftime today.
