Kent State Shoots Down Cleveland State 84-69
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Flashes hit 11 three-pointers to extend winning streak to seven straight
KENT, Ohio -Kent State hit a season high 11 three-pointers to earn its seventh straight victory as the Golden Flashes handed Cleveland State a 84-69 loss Saturday (Dec. 29) at the M.A.C Center. Winning for the 10th time in the last 11 games KSU improves to 10-2 on the year. The Vikings fell to 8-5 with the loss.
Seniors Haminn Quaintance (Sarasota, Fla. / Jacksonville University) and Mike Scott (Indianapolis, Ind. / Northwest) led KSU with game-highs of 17 points each. Al Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J. / Redlands C.C.) had a game and career-high 10 assists to go along with 15 points.
In addition to his scoring total of the season, Quaintance grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Chris Singletary (Chicago, Ill. / Florida Prep) scored 11 points and swiped a game-high four steals.
The Golden Flashes shot 56.3 percent (27-for-48) from the floor and 50 percent (11-of-22) from distance. Kent State equaled a season high with 22 assists, assisting on 81 percent of the made baskets.
“We were disappointed with the last game we played and that is what we concentrated on over the break,” said Head Coach Jim Christian, “Every three we took was a good one. I don't evaluate how many we take, I look at the quality of the three.”
Any worries of a post-Christmas slump, this was just the second game in 21 days for the Golden Flashes, was quickly put to rest. Quatintance, who leads the Mid-American Conference in blocks per game, came away with two rejections in Cleveland State's first two trips down the court to spark the defense and the offense was just as smooth.
KSU hit its first four and connected on six 3-pointers on the way to a 23-9 run to start the game. The Golden Flashes stayed hot for the rest of the half and finished with a 66.7 shooting percentage (16-of-24) from the field in the first 20 minutes of play. Scott led all scorers with 14 first-half points as KSU, who never trailed, took a 50-27 lead into the break.
Thanks in part to nine points by Quaintance and seven from Fisher, the Flashes kept the lead at at-least 20 for almost the entire second half until the Vikings pulled to within 15 (84-69) to end the game.
“We had three great days of practice, and just came out ready to play, said Fisher, “We took the shots that were there and played a good game.”
Kent State 7-0 at home this season and has won 16 of the last 17.
Cleveland State was led by Cedric Jackson who scored 12 points before fouling out early in the second half. The game marked the first visit to the M.A.C. Center by Viking Head Coach Gary Water's who led the Golden Flashes to three 20-win seasons and two NCAA tournament appearances in five years (1996-01).
Kent State returns to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Chapel Hill to face #1 ranked North Carolina. The game is set to tip-off at 8:00 pm and will be broadcast live on ESPN. .
NOTES: The win gives Kent State the first undefeated December (5-0) on record in program history ... KSU went 6-1 in December of 2002-03 losing at St. Bonaventure in a game that was later forfeited to the Golden Flashes ... The 84 points were the most scored by Kent State this season ... The 11-three pointers were the most since KSU hit 11 in a win over Bowling Green on February 21, 2006 ... The Golden Flashes have shot over 50 % in four of the last six games.
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