Slow Start Dooms Kent State In Loss To South Florida
11/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Flashes travel to Morehead State on Sunday
TAMPA, Fla. – The Golden Flashes got off to a slow start and were never able to recover as they were dealt a 76-54 loss to South Florida Wednesday night in the Sun Dome. The reunion with former head coach Stan Heath (2001-02) was less than pleasant for Kent State which fell to 4-2 on the year. USF improved to 5-1 with the win.
"They (USF) came out and played at a high level and would have beaten a lot of teams tonight," said KSU Head Coach Geno Ford.
With 13 points Justin Greene (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Lincoln) led KSU in scoring for the second time this season. Redshirt junior Rodriguez Sherman (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) was also in double figures with 11 points.
Greene, who also equaled a team high six rebounds, scored on Kent State's first two possessions, but the Golden Flashes managed little offense after that as South Florida went on a 19-0 run over the next eight minutes. Sherman would continue to attack the basket and helped KSU cut into the deficit before the Bulls scored the final five points and took a 41-20 lead at halftime.
"We didn't play with any confidence and I give them (USF) full credit," said Ford. "They were more physical, better with their execution and really moved the ball around well."
The second half was highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers in transition from senior Mike McKee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) who had six points in the game. Coming off assists from redshirt freshman Cameron Joyce (Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary's), McKee's three-pointers put the Golden Flashes within 17, but that would be as close as they would get.
Kent State held a 24-17 edge in rebound in the second half, thanks in part to 13 offensive rebounds. For the game South Florida out rebounded KSU 40-36 and shot 501 percent from the field.
KSU continues a four game road swing on Sunday when the team travels to Kentucky to face Morehead State at 7:00 pm.
NOTES:
- In his only season with the university, Heath led Kent State to a 30-6 record and the NCAA Elite '8' in 2002
- The game marked just the second ever in the state of Florida for the KSU program
- Senior Frank Henry-Ala has had five steals in the last two games and leads the team with 12 steals this season
- The game was the 100th in Mike McKee's career at KSU.
