McKee Shoots Golden Flashes Past Coppin State, 74-51
11/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Second Straight win for Kent State
KENT, Ohio - Sophomore guard Mike McKee (Pittsburgh, Pa. (Plum) made six three-pointers and set a career high with 20 points to lead Kent State to a convincing 74-51 win over Coppin State on Sunday to start the Chicago Invitational Challenge.
Senior forward Mike Scott (Indianapolis, Ind. (Northwest) had his first double-double of the year (fourth career) with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, McKee shot 6-of-10 from three-point range, giving him 11 in three games this year.
“I just felt the same as I do every other game. Just hitting that first shot really helps,” McKee said. “It really gives you a little bit of confidence. It makes the other shots easier to take.
Kent State, who never trailed against Coppin State, forced 17 turnovers while giving the ball away just 11 times themselves. Kent State also had a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio (22-11).
The Golden Flashes (2-1), jumped out to a 9-2 lead thanks in part to one of McKee's five first-half threes.
Coppin State (2-1) pulled to within three before McKee took again over hitting a trio of 3's on a 13-4 Kent State run that put the Flashes up 25-13. All but two of McKee's 20 points came from behind the line.
When McKee wasn't burying three's, Scott and sophomore forward Rodriquez Sherman (Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis) both picked up the first-half scoring load.
Scott rattled off eight straight points, four of which came off of two-handed dunks, while Sherman dropped in 11, including 3-of-4 from three-point territory. The Flashes took an 18-point lead (43-25) into the half.
Sherman would finished the day with 13 points and a game-high five assists.
Kent State forced 11 first-half turnovers while out rebounding Coppin State 16-10. The Flashes also had their best half shooting of the season hitting 55.2 percent of their shots (16-for-29).
Unlike Thursday's game, there would be no second-half comeback against the Flashes at the M.A.C Center. The Flashes out scored Coppin State 18-13 in the first ten minutes of the second half on their way to the 23-point victory
Six-straight points from junior guard Al Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J. (Redlands C.C.) (Pennsauken) highlighted the run. The transfer point guard also added three rebounds, two assists and a game-high three steals.
Mike Miller led Coppin State with 11 points.
“It's good to see our team come out and play hard today for 40 minutes,” Coach Jim Christian said. “The thing I've really been pleased about is the last two games we've really done a great job of moving the basketball and making the extra pass.
The Flashes will play the second of their four games as part of the Chicago Invitational Challenge Tuesday when Longwood comes to the M.A.C Center for a 7 p.m. tip off.
Notes: Mike McKee's previous career high was 16 points set last Thursday against Hampton ... In three games this year he has made 11 three-pointers, averaging 3.7 made per game ... Mike Scott made all three of his foul shots and is now 15-16 from the foul line this season. Kent State is allowing just 22 points and holding opponents to 33 percent shooting in the first half.
| KSU-Coppin State |
