Kent State Downed By Miami 66-55
1/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Flashes held without a field goal the final four minutes
KENT, Ohio - Miami closed out the game on a 10-0 run to finish off the Kent State men's basketball team by a final of 66-55 in a Mid-American Conference contest this afternoon at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (8-9; 1-2) were held without a field goal over the final four minutes as their nine game home court winning streak against MAC opponents was snapped. Senior guard Al Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J. / Redlands (Okla.)) once again led the way scoring a team high 14 points, while junior Mike McKee (Plum Borough, Pa / Plum) found his stroke from the outside canning four three-pointers on the way to a season high 12 points.
"It seems like every time we take a step forward we find a way to take one back. We just didn't guard very well today," said Head Coach Geno Ford, "They didn't shoot a great percentage but the shots they got and converted were just too easy."
To start the game Miami jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the first seven minutes behind nine points from the RedHawks leading scorer Michael Bramos. Kent State would fight right back responding with a 15-3 run over the next three minutes to take its first lead of the game at 21-20. McKee hit two three-pointers during the stretch which was capped off by a three-point play from Fisher. The game stayed tight over the final nine minutes of the opening half as the RedHawks gained a 32-30 lead at the break.
"When I saw that first one go in, even though it wasn't clean, that gave me some confidence," said McKee, "It just makes it that much easier to take the next one. I think it has a lot to do with that first shot and how it feels. Everyday it feels good, it's just a matter of having the confidence."
The Golden Flashes fell behind again in the first seven minutes of the second half, trailing 44-37 before McKee helped spark another rally. The Pittsburgh area product nailed two more three-pointers in a 12-4 spurt that gave Kent State its first lead of the second half at 49-48 with 8:46 left to play. On the other end the RedHawks quickly regained the lead on two free throws by Eric Pollitz. The Golden Flashes would take just one lead (53-52) before the final run by Miami put the game away.
Bramos led all scorers with 24 points, while Pollitz added 12 and seven assists for the RedHawks. Antonio Ballard had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Junior guard Tyree Evans (Richmond, Va. / Motlow C.C. (Tenn.)) entered the game averaging 16.3 points, but was held scoreless for the first time in eight games at Kent State. Junior Brandon Parks (Bunker Hill, Pa. / Maconaquah H.S.) had nine rebounds to go with his six points and two assists.
Kent State is back in action on Wednesday when the team travels to Buffalo for a 7:00 pm contest.
NOTES: The loss also ends a four game winning streak against Miami ... Mike McKee's four three-pointers are his most since he hit five at Eastern Michigan last season (Jan. 30, 2008) ... 18 of McKee's 23 field goals are from three this season ... Chris Singletary (Chicago, Ill./Florida Prep.) had just one steal in the game ending his streak of nine straight games with at least two steals ... Kent State equaled a season low with four steals in the game ... Second straight game KSU hit at least 70 percent (7-10) from the foul line.
