Second-Half Turnaround Powers Kent State to 63-57 Win Against Crosstown Rival Akron
2/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
KENT, Ohio The Kent State University mens basketball team rallied from a nine-point, second-half deficit to post a 63-57 win against crosstown rival University of Akron Saturday before sellout crowd of 6,532 at the M.A.C. Center. The win moved Kent State back into sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference as the Golden Flashes improved to 10-1, while Akron slipped to second at 9-2.
Kent State turned up its defensive intensity in the second half after Akron scored six of the first eight points after intermission to build a nine-point lead, 41-32 at the 17:14 mark. But over the next 10:45, the Golden Flashes would limit the Zips to just one field goal and four points as Kent State turned the deficit into a four-point lead.
The Flashes erased the initial nine-point Zip lead in 3:05, as KSU went on a 9-0 run to knot the score at 41-41 with 13:45 remaining. Senior wing Jay Youngblood canned a step-back three-pointer to cap the run to pull KSU even for the first time since 6-6. Akron would take a two-point edge twice in the next two minutes before a layup by sophomore forward Mike Scott started a 6-0 run that pushed the Golden Flashes to a 49-45 lead at 7:28.
From there, the KSU lead would see-saw between two and six points, until senior guard DeAndre Haynes hit a driving jumper in the lane and senior forward Kevin Warzynski was fouled on a layup after corralling an offensive rebound. His free throw on the three-point play gave Kent State a 60-51 lead with 1:36 to play and effectively iced the game.
The Golden Flashes are now alone in first place in the MAC for the second time this season, moving into first after a 53-46 win at Miami University Jan. 24. Kent State matched the third-best one-loss start in conference play in school history, as the 2002-03 squad also started the year 10-1.
Kent States defense limited Akron to 30.4 percent shooting and just 22 points in the second half, after both teams hit 50 percent in the opening half. The Zips also were cooled from three-point range, going 1-of-12 in the second frame. But the telling statistic may have proved to be the seven turnovers Kent State forced in the second half that were turned into 14 points. In all, Akron committed 12 turnovers, while KSU allowed a season-low six turnovers.
Warzynski led Kent State with 15 points, hitting 7-of-9 attempts and also grabbing eight rebounds. Youngblood added 14 points, while Haynes scored nine of his 12 points in the second half. Scott also posted a big second half, grabbing all seven of his rebounds in the frame and finishing with nine points.
The Zips were led by 17 points from Dru Joyce, who scored just three points after halftime, and Romeo Travis, who posted 13 points and eight rebounds.
Kent State is next in action when it plays at Toledo, Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sport Net Ohio.
GAME NOTES: As a team, Kent State grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 17 second-chance points... Kent State also scored 30 points in the paint to 14 for the Zips... The Golden Flashes overcame a poor outing at the free-throw line, hitting just 16-of-29 (.552)... The win was the third straight in the series for Kent State, which the Golden Flashes now lead 62-56.
