Kent State Battles Back To Beat Akron
3/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MAC Tournament Bracket (.pdf)
Golden Flashes hold Zips without a field goal for the final six minutes
KENT, Ohio - Kent State ended the game on a 14-5 run to earn a 67-63 win over rival Akron in the Mid-American Conference regular season final for both teams. The Senior Day win for the Golden Flashes improved them to 10-6 in the MAC and 18-13 overall. KSU is now one of just four teams in the country to win at least 10 conference games in each of the past 11 seasons (Kansas, Gonzaga, Creighton).
On a day in which senior teammates guard Al Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J./Redlands CC (Okla.)), guard Jordan Mincy (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway H.S.) and forward Julian Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Fork Union (Va.) Military Acad.) were honored for their contributions to the men's basketball program, it was junior guard Mike McKee (Plum Borough, Pa./Plum H.S.) who played the role of hero in the waning minutes of the contest.
The reigning MAC Player of the Year, Fisher found McKee wide open in the left corner, and McKee delivered by swishing a trey to put KSU ahead 63-62 with 1:02 left on the clock. McKee then stole the ball from sophomore forward Brett McKnight on the ensuing Akron (19-12, 10-6) possession. Fisher and junior guard Tyree Evans (Richmond Va./Motlow C.C. (Tenn.)) iced the game by hitting four free throws with under 20 seconds to play to secure the 10th win in the last 11 games for the Golden Flashes.
"There haven't been three higher character or better kids to have than these three seniors," said Head Coach Geno Ford, "I wanted to win so bad for Jordan [Mincy] Jules [Julian Sullinger] and Al [Fisher] because of that reason. I've coached for 15 years and I don't think I've ever had three guys that have never asked what's in it for me at any point."
After trailing nearly the entire first half, a 13-2 run by the Golden Flashes moved them ahead 51-47 with 9:41 left. The lead was still at four when three straight three-pointers by the Zips pushed them ahead 58-53 at 5:22. An offensive put back by junior Brandon Parks (Bunker Hill, Pa. / Maconaquah H.S.), who pulled in a game high nine rebounds, then started the KSU comeback as Akron was held without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game.
In his final home game, Fisher led all scorers with 18 points and dished out a game-high five assists. McKee also finished in double figures with 10 points.
In the first half Kent State trailed by as many as 10 before Fisher scored five points in the last two minutes to help close the gap to 31-27 at the break. Doing most of his damage in the opening half, Sullinger had eight rebounds and seven points to keep the Golden Flashes in the game. The MAC leader in field goal percentage during league play (60.9 percent), he finished with nine points and the eight rebounds.
"In the first half Julian gave us a chance to win," said Ford, "He almost had a double-double at halftime and if he doesn't play like that we're done, the game is over."
Brett McKnight led Akron with 14 points, while Anthony Hitchens added 13. The Zips shot just 38 percent from the field compared to 41 percent for KSU. The Golden Flashes also owned the glass grabbing a 43-31 advantage.
Kent State heads to Cleveland for the 2009 MAC Tournament on Tuesday.
NOTES: - With the win Kent State becomes one of just four teams in the country to win at least 10 conference games in each of the past 11 seasons. Kansas, Gonzaga and Creighton are the other three ... Jordan Mincy is now tied for the most games played MAC history with 132 career games played ... Mincy tied former KSU player Bryan Bedford (2000-04) ... Mincy and Julian Sullinger have been a apart of 92 wins at Kent State during their four year careers ... Sullinger is averaging 9.3 rebounds in the last three games. He leads the MAC with a 60.9 FG percentage during league play ... Kent State has scored more points off turnovers than the opponent in 12 straight games. The Golden Flashes are averaging 25.7 ppg over turnovers and have a +16.3 ppg advantage during the stretch ... Kent State is 23-6 all-time when Al Fisher is the leading scorer. It was also the 33rd time he has led the team in assists in which Kent State is 25-8 ... Its was the 27th time Fisher has reached double figures in the second half alone (11 points today) ... Fisher has made 48 field goals this season that have either tied the game or given KSU the lead. (31 percent of his total field goals)
Golden Flashes hold Zips without a field goal for the final six minutes
KENT, Ohio - Kent State ended the game on a 14-5 run to earn a 67-63 win over rival Akron in the Mid-American Conference regular season final for both teams. The Senior Day win for the Golden Flashes improved them to 10-6 in the MAC and 18-13 overall. KSU is now one of just four teams in the country to win at least 10 conference games in each of the past 11 seasons (Kansas, Gonzaga, Creighton).
On a day in which senior teammates guard Al Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J./Redlands CC (Okla.)), guard Jordan Mincy (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway H.S.) and forward Julian Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Fork Union (Va.) Military Acad.) were honored for their contributions to the men's basketball program, it was junior guard Mike McKee (Plum Borough, Pa./Plum H.S.) who played the role of hero in the waning minutes of the contest.
The reigning MAC Player of the Year, Fisher found McKee wide open in the left corner, and McKee delivered by swishing a trey to put KSU ahead 63-62 with 1:02 left on the clock. McKee then stole the ball from sophomore forward Brett McKnight on the ensuing Akron (19-12, 10-6) possession. Fisher and junior guard Tyree Evans (Richmond Va./Motlow C.C. (Tenn.)) iced the game by hitting four free throws with under 20 seconds to play to secure the 10th win in the last 11 games for the Golden Flashes.
"There haven't been three higher character or better kids to have than these three seniors," said Head Coach Geno Ford, "I wanted to win so bad for Jordan [Mincy] Jules [Julian Sullinger] and Al [Fisher] because of that reason. I've coached for 15 years and I don't think I've ever had three guys that have never asked what's in it for me at any point."
After trailing nearly the entire first half, a 13-2 run by the Golden Flashes moved them ahead 51-47 with 9:41 left. The lead was still at four when three straight three-pointers by the Zips pushed them ahead 58-53 at 5:22. An offensive put back by junior Brandon Parks (Bunker Hill, Pa. / Maconaquah H.S.), who pulled in a game high nine rebounds, then started the KSU comeback as Akron was held without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game.
In his final home game, Fisher led all scorers with 18 points and dished out a game-high five assists. McKee also finished in double figures with 10 points.
In the first half Kent State trailed by as many as 10 before Fisher scored five points in the last two minutes to help close the gap to 31-27 at the break. Doing most of his damage in the opening half, Sullinger had eight rebounds and seven points to keep the Golden Flashes in the game. The MAC leader in field goal percentage during league play (60.9 percent), he finished with nine points and the eight rebounds.
"In the first half Julian gave us a chance to win," said Ford, "He almost had a double-double at halftime and if he doesn't play like that we're done, the game is over."
Brett McKnight led Akron with 14 points, while Anthony Hitchens added 13. The Zips shot just 38 percent from the field compared to 41 percent for KSU. The Golden Flashes also owned the glass grabbing a 43-31 advantage.
Kent State heads to Cleveland for the 2009 MAC Tournament on Tuesday.
NOTES: - With the win Kent State becomes one of just four teams in the country to win at least 10 conference games in each of the past 11 seasons. Kansas, Gonzaga and Creighton are the other three ... Jordan Mincy is now tied for the most games played MAC history with 132 career games played ... Mincy tied former KSU player Bryan Bedford (2000-04) ... Mincy and Julian Sullinger have been a apart of 92 wins at Kent State during their four year careers ... Sullinger is averaging 9.3 rebounds in the last three games. He leads the MAC with a 60.9 FG percentage during league play ... Kent State has scored more points off turnovers than the opponent in 12 straight games. The Golden Flashes are averaging 25.7 ppg over turnovers and have a +16.3 ppg advantage during the stretch ... Kent State is 23-6 all-time when Al Fisher is the leading scorer. It was also the 33rd time he has led the team in assists in which Kent State is 25-8 ... Its was the 27th time Fisher has reached double figures in the second half alone (11 points today) ... Fisher has made 48 field goals this season that have either tied the game or given KSU the lead. (31 percent of his total field goals)
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