Kent State Travels To Alabama To Face UAB On Sunday Night
12/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
 |
FM 100.1 WNIR in Kent |
 |
|
 |
Subscription
|
 |
PDF format |
Complete Notes in .PDF Format
The Game
Traveling outside the state of Ohio for the first time this season, Kent State (7-1) ventures to the 'Yellowhammer State' to face UAB (6-2) on Sunday night. The Golden Flashes are looking to continue their hot start and extend a five game winning streak as the team makes just its second trip ever to the state of Alabama.
Averaging a Mid-American Conference best 76.5 points per game, Kent State used a season-high 10 three-pointers to dispatch of Louisiana at Monroe on Thursday night. Junior guard Carlton Guyton led the barrage from beyond the arc connecting on 5-7 from three on his way to a 17-point performance. Guyton, who also added seven rebounds in the contest, leads the team with 17 three-pointers and is shooting 43.6 percent (17-39) on the year.
A big part of the open looks from three by the Golden Flashes stemmed from their ability to move the ball. Kent State passed out a season high 23 assists on 26 made baskets for the game. Junior guard Michael Porrini paced the unselfish play with a career high eight assists. Porrini also added three steals to extend his streak to four straight games with at least three steals. He is averaging 2.1 swipes a game this season. Junior forward Justin Greene added three assists and matched Guyton with a team high 17 points on 7-8 from the field. Greene, who is shooting 62.0 percent on the season, has scored 17 or more points in all but one game this year. His 19.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg both lead the Golden Flashes.
UAB is coming of a 66-64 loss at Georgia on Friday Night that snapped a four game winning streak. Sunday's game marks the fourth contest in the seven days for the Blazers. Aaron Johnson, a 5-8 senior guard, leads the country with 8.3 assists per game while 6-10 center Cameron Moore is averaging 18.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
TV / Radio
WNIR 100.1 FM (Ty Linder)
Next Up For Kent State
Kent State continues a two-game road swing down south on Thursday in an ESPN2 nationally televised game at Florida.
Quick Flashes
• Kent State's 7-1 start is the best since the 2002-03 squad began the season with a 9-1 record.
• The Kent State bench is averaging 24.3 ppg in the last three games. The Golden Flashes are 4-0 this season when the team scores 20+.
• Despite a season low 28 rebounds vs ULM, Kent State ranks 22nd in the country with 41.8 rebounds per game. The Golden Flashes have been out rebounded just once all season and own a MAC best +6.4 advantage for the year.
• Michael Porrini has had at least three steals in each of the last four games. He is the first KSU player to accomplish such a feat since DeAndre Haynes did so in January of the 2003-04 season. Porrini leads the team with 17 steals (2.1 spg) this year.
• Kent State is average 26.5 free throw attempts per game and owns a 6-0 record this season when getting to the line more than the opponent.
UAB Notes
• Kent State is 2-0 all-time against UAB, including a 72-65 win in Kent, Ohio last season.
• Kent State went 2-0 against Conference USA last season also defeating Tulsa 75-74 in the first round of the NIT.
• The only other game in program history in the state of Alabama was a 65-64 loss to Alabama in Tucaloosa on Nov. 30, 1984.
Ford Reaches 100 Wins Overall and 50 at Kent State
• Kent State Head Coach Geno Ford recorded his 100th career win as a head coach on Nov. 26 vs Lehigh.
• Now in his third year at the helm of the Golden Flashes program, Ford also totaled his 50th win at Kent State on Dec. 2 vs Louisiana at Monroe.
It's a good Thing they Aren't Still Using the Peach Basket
• The highest scoring team in the MAC with 76.5 points per game, Kent State has kept the scoreboard operator quite busy this season.
• The Golden Flashes are a perfect 5-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
• While it is only eight games into the season it is noteworthy to mention that Kent State has not averaged over 75.0 ppg for a year since the 2002-03 team put up 76.8 ppg.
• Should the 76.5 ppg hold up through the season it would go down as the fourth highest single season scoring average in school history.
• Kent State has already surpassed the 90-point mark twice this season marking the first time since 2005-06 that the Golden Flashes have scored 90+ twice in the same season.
• The 94 points scored vs Urbana (Nov. 23) also marked the most by a Kent State team in the Geno Ford era and the most since the 2006-07 squad put 105 on the board in the opener vs South Dakota State that season.
