Wednesday, December 4
Kent, Ohio
7:00 p.m.
Kent State University
vs
Bucknell University
Mark Henniger
Photo by: David Dermer
Kent State Hosts Bucknell on Wednesday to Conclude Homestand
12/3/2013 12:22:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes (.pdf)
Kent State (8-1) will try to close out a perfect seven-game homestand on Wednesday night when Bucknell (3-4) visits the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes, who are one of just four Division I teams with eight wins, have won six straight and own a 13-game home winning streak dating back to last February.
Third-year head coach Rob Senderoff's team is building its identity as one that can win in a variety of ways. In Sunday's 68-51 victory over Kennesaw State, it was an outstanding defensive performance that led the way. The Flashes held the Owls to 31-percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers while holding a +12 rebounding edge. The 51 points scored by Kennesaw State marked the fewest the Flashes have allowed to a Division I opponent since holding UAB and James Madison to 48 and 51, respectively, in consecutive games back in December of 2011.
Kent State's great depth was on full display in the victory, as seniors Kris Brewer and Darren Goodson saw just 30 minutes of action combined. Sophomore reserves Kellon Thomas and Khaliq Spicer were sensational in their place. Thomas keyed a 16-4 Flashes run to open the second half with three assists and a traditional three-point play, while Spicer pulled down nine of his career-high 13 rebounds in just 11 minutes during the second half.
Junior Derek Jackson averages a team-best 12.0 ppg and all five starters are averaging 9.7 ppg or more. Senior Mark Henniger, who has scored in double-figures in each of the past three games, leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (.730) and is 13th nationally in free throw percentage (.950).
Bucknell, which is one of only 12 programs with 25 or more wins in each of the last three seasons, is off to an uncharacteristic slow start this year. The Bison have lost two straight and three of their four losses are to RPI Top 100 teams. After a four-point loss at Stanford to open the season, Bucknell bounced back with a 10-point win at Penn State. 6'5" guard Cameron Ayers, son of former Ohio State and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Randy Ayers, leads the way with 15.0 ppg and has made 50-percent of his three-point attempts. 6'3" guard Steven Kaspar averages 9.9 ppg and a team-best 5.3 apg and 4.7 rpg.
The Bison are coming off their worst offensive performance of the season, a 66-53 loss to Princeton, in which they shot 36-percent from the field and 9-percent from the three-point line. While Bucknell takes excellent care of the ball and ranks 19th nationally with only 9.9 turnovers per game, it does little defensively to cause problems for opposing offenses. Of 345 Division I teams, Bucknell ranks 345th in blocks per game (0.4) and 344th in steals per game (3.1).
Radio
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will have 17 days off before heading to College of Charleston on Saturday, Dec. 21.
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Kent State (8-1) will try to close out a perfect seven-game homestand on Wednesday night when Bucknell (3-4) visits the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes, who are one of just four Division I teams with eight wins, have won six straight and own a 13-game home winning streak dating back to last February.
Third-year head coach Rob Senderoff's team is building its identity as one that can win in a variety of ways. In Sunday's 68-51 victory over Kennesaw State, it was an outstanding defensive performance that led the way. The Flashes held the Owls to 31-percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers while holding a +12 rebounding edge. The 51 points scored by Kennesaw State marked the fewest the Flashes have allowed to a Division I opponent since holding UAB and James Madison to 48 and 51, respectively, in consecutive games back in December of 2011.
Kent State's great depth was on full display in the victory, as seniors Kris Brewer and Darren Goodson saw just 30 minutes of action combined. Sophomore reserves Kellon Thomas and Khaliq Spicer were sensational in their place. Thomas keyed a 16-4 Flashes run to open the second half with three assists and a traditional three-point play, while Spicer pulled down nine of his career-high 13 rebounds in just 11 minutes during the second half.
Junior Derek Jackson averages a team-best 12.0 ppg and all five starters are averaging 9.7 ppg or more. Senior Mark Henniger, who has scored in double-figures in each of the past three games, leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (.730) and is 13th nationally in free throw percentage (.950).
Bucknell, which is one of only 12 programs with 25 or more wins in each of the last three seasons, is off to an uncharacteristic slow start this year. The Bison have lost two straight and three of their four losses are to RPI Top 100 teams. After a four-point loss at Stanford to open the season, Bucknell bounced back with a 10-point win at Penn State. 6'5" guard Cameron Ayers, son of former Ohio State and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Randy Ayers, leads the way with 15.0 ppg and has made 50-percent of his three-point attempts. 6'3" guard Steven Kaspar averages 9.9 ppg and a team-best 5.3 apg and 4.7 rpg.
The Bison are coming off their worst offensive performance of the season, a 66-53 loss to Princeton, in which they shot 36-percent from the field and 9-percent from the three-point line. While Bucknell takes excellent care of the ball and ranks 19th nationally with only 9.9 turnovers per game, it does little defensively to cause problems for opposing offenses. Of 345 Division I teams, Bucknell ranks 345th in blocks per game (0.4) and 344th in steals per game (3.1).
Series Notes
• This will be the second meeting all-time between the two schools.
• Bucknell defeated Kent State last season, 76-60, in Lewisburg, Pa.
• The loss marked the largest margin of defeat for the Golden Flashes on the season.
Quick Flashes
• Kent State is ranked 15th in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, which is six spots higher than a week a go when they debuted in the poll at No. 21.
• Dating back to last season, the Flashes have won 13 straight at the M.A.C. Center.
• A balanced scoring attack has been key to the Flashes' early success with at least nine players scoring in each of the first nine games this season.
• Despite having just one player among the MAC's top 20 scorers, KSU ranks second in scoring as a team (80.0 ppg).
• The Flashes are getting huge bench contributions and have received 21 or more points from their reserves in each game. They are outscoring the opposing bench by an average of 27.0-17.0.
• KSU has made 176 free throws on the season, which ranks 15th nationally, and is more than double the number of free throws Bucknell has attempted this season.
• The Flashes are averaging 10.3 turnovers per game and have committed more than 12 once.
• Dating back to last season, the Flashes have won 13 straight at the M.A.C. Center.
• A balanced scoring attack has been key to the Flashes' early success with at least nine players scoring in each of the first nine games this season.
• Despite having just one player among the MAC's top 20 scorers, KSU ranks second in scoring as a team (80.0 ppg).
• The Flashes are getting huge bench contributions and have received 21 or more points from their reserves in each game. They are outscoring the opposing bench by an average of 27.0-17.0.
• KSU has made 176 free throws on the season, which ranks 15th nationally, and is more than double the number of free throws Bucknell has attempted this season.
• The Flashes are averaging 10.3 turnovers per game and have committed more than 12 once.
Radio
640 AM / Golden Flashes iHeartRadio: Ty Linder (play-by-play) and Dave Carducci (color analyst)
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will have 17 days off before heading to College of Charleston on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Tickets
Wednesday night's game is the second part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team, which hosts Niagara at 5 p.m. The first 200 students at the game with receive a FREE mini basketball or The Krew t-shirt. Fans who purchase a ticket to the women's game on Wednesday can stay for the men's game and move to the general admission seating on the second level.
Fans can purchase tickets over the phone by calling 330-672-2244, in person by coming to the M.A.C. Center ticket office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or online by clicking the banner below.
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