Kent State University
6-1
Niagara University
1-4
Golden Flashes race to 102-97 win over Niagara
11/23/2013 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kellon Thomas drilled six straight free throws in the final 20 seconds as Kent State's bench helped to hold off Niagara for a 102-97 victory in a track-meet finale to the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Saturday night at the M.A.C. Center.
"I'm happy we won, and getting three games in a row like this in three days of this tournament will serve us well when we get to March," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff, whose team improved to 6-1 after beating Western Carolina, USC Upstate and Niagara on consecutive nights. "We still have to get a lot better, though. Our defense wasn't great. We gave up too many offensive rebounds. But we still found a way to win."
The six free throws by Thomas kept Niagara two possession in the hole during the closing seconds. Thomas combined with fellow sophomores K.K. Simmons and Khaliq Spicer to provide the Golden Flashes with a spark they desperately needed in the second half.
"We call our whole group of sophomores the Super Five Sophomores," said Simmons, who finished with 18 points and scored eight unanswered during a key stretch midway through the second half. "We preach confidence and stay ready all of the time. We know any one of us can come in and change a game."
Kent State watched an 11-point first-half lead slide to a slim 44-43 advantage at halftime. The Purple Eagles took a three-point lead in the early minutes of the second half before Simmons and Spicer came off the bench and flipped the script.
Simmons scored 10 overall in a 13-2 run that vaulted Kent State back into the lead for good with 11:23 to play. Two dunks by Spicer on pinpoint passes from Darren Goodson helped Kent State hold the lead through a pressure-filled final eight minutes.
"I saw our team in a jam offensively and I felt it was time to step up and be more aggressive when I came in during the second half," said Simmons. "We have a really deep team, so it could have been anyone. I'm glad I had the game I did, though, because this Coaches vs. Cancer event is very special to me. I lost my favorite auntie, Renee Livingston, to cancer, so I thank God I could honor her like this.
"Khaliq is so athletic, so he came in and did what we always expect with those dunks and (three) blocked shots. And Kellon stepped up and hit those big free throws."
Led by Simmons, Spicer, Thomas and Melvin Tabb, Kent State's bench came back to outscore Niagara's 37-29 after the Purple Eagles' reserves held a 24-10 advantage in the first half.
The veterans were pretty good as well for Kent State. Mark Henniger enjoyed the best offensive night of his four-year career with 20 points on perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the foul line. He also grabbed five rebounds before fouling out after 22 minutes.
Kris Brewer contributed 16 points, including three on a key driving layup while drawing a foul with 1:46 to play. Devareaux Manley added 14 points and Goodson scored 10.
Spicer added eight points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in 14 minutes.
Antoine Mason led Niagara with 32 points. His big second half kept Niagara on Kent State's heels. The nation's leading scorer didn't hit his first field goal until nearly 15 minutes into the contest. He finished with 12 baskets on 20 attempts. Ramone Snowden added 21 for the Purple Eagles, who fell to 1-4.
Kent State eclipsed 100 points for the first time since Nov. 10, 2006 against South Dakota.
The Golden Flashes return to action on Wednesday night when they host Youngstown State.
"With students leaving for Thanksgiving break, we need the community to come out and really help to give us a home-court advantage," said Senderoff. "We're both 6-1 and it should be another really good game."
