Sherman?s And-One Dunk Gives Kent State 74-73 Win Over Western Michigan
1/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Three-point play in the final seconds extends KSU the winning streak to four
KENT, Ohio – Rodriguez Sherman's emphatic and-one dunk and subsequent free throw with two seconds remaining lifted the Kent State (14-7; 5-2) men's basketball team past Western Michigan (11-9; 3-4), 74-73 Saturday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. The victory extends the Golden Flashes win streak to four straight.
"When I went to the basket, I knew I had to dunk it because he might block it," said Sherman of his highlight-reel play. "When I got past the guard, I saw a little bit of lane and my eyes got real big. I still can't believe it right now."
In a back-and-forth contest, senior Chris Singletary (Chicago, Ill./Florida Prep) led the Golden Flashes with 24 points. A redshirt junior, Sherman (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) was the only other KSU player to finish in double figures with 12 while equaling a career high with six assists for the second-straight game. Sophomore Justin Greene (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
"Chris was getting the ball in the mid-post and driving it and drawing some fouls and at least getting us to stay in contact with the game," said Head Coach Geno Ford. "If not for him carrying us offensively, we would have been down 10 or 12 and it would've been over. He was big for us today throughout the whole game."
If it was not for the play-of-the-day dunk by Sherman, the game would have belonged to Western Michigan's David Kool. Kool poured in a career-high 38 points, including an off-balance jumper in the lane to put the Broncos up by two with eight seconds to go.
However, that was just enough time for the Golden Flashes. Sherman brought the ball the length of the court and blew by two defenders before getting fouled and throwing down a one-handed slam to tie the game. He drained the free throw to put Kent State up one.
Western Michigan had one final shot, but a last-second three clanged off the backboard.
Kent State shot 52 percent in the first half and built up a six-point cushion. The second half did not go as smoothly however as the Golden Flashes were just 3-17 from the field at one point. The shooting drought allowed the Broncos to extend the lead all the way to eight (58-50) with 6:46 remaining.
Singletary then hit two of his 12 free throws to begin a 7-0 run and cut the deficit to just one a a three-pointer from Sherman with 5:35 to play cut it back to one. The game would stay tight until the Golden Flashes finally managed to tie the score with 1:23 left on an Anthony Simpson (Rockford, Ill./Hichland CC [Ill.]) dunk.
Kool also had 12 free throws and put WMU back up two with a pair coming at 31 seconds only to have Singletary score inside 10 seconds later which set up the final lead changes between Kool and Sherman.
With a 41-27 edge, Kent State held a rebounding advantage for the fourth straight game. KSU would shoot 43.0 percent for the game compared to 43.6 percent for the Broncos that included a 3-15 showing from beyond the arc. Both teams spent most of the afternoon at the free throw line as 48 fouls were called. KSU was 22-26 from the stripe, while WMU was 22-28.
Kent State returns to action at home on Monday, Feb. 1, against Northern Illinois. Game time is at 7:00 pm.
Notes:
- Kent State has now won 13 straight over against the MAC West and 18 straight at home.
- In the last four games Kent State has a +12.0 advantage in rebounding. Prior to the streak KSU was -0.6
- Kent State has held nine of the last 10 opponents to less than 32 percent shooting from three.
- During MAC play KSU has held opponents to just 25.4 percent shooting.
- Kent State is +86 in points scored over the opposition the last four games with Rodriquez Sherman on the court.
- Sherman equaled a career high with six assists. Second straight game he has had six assists.
- Kent State is 4-0 this season when Chris Singletary leads the team in scoring and 13-4 all-time.
- Sixth career 20-point game for Singletary - second this season.
