Golden Flashes Host Broncos in Thursday MAC Tilt

Kent State (11-6, 2-2) will be back in action on Thursday in a Mid-American Conference crossover matchup with Western Michigan (9-7, 2-2). The Golden Flashes return to the M.A.C. Center following last week's two-game road swing for the 7 p.m. contest.

Both teams will look to regroup following losses over the weekend. Kent State lost at Buffalo on Saturday, 71-60, while Western Michigan dropped a 69-62 contest to Bowling Green at home on Sunday.

The Golden Flashes have found much success playing in front of the home crowd with an 8-3 record at the M.A.C. Center this season. Kent State is scoring more than seven points more and allowing nearly two fewer points per game at home than on the road. Western Michigan has struggled in road games (1-5) with an overtime victory over Miami being its only one this season.

Third-year head coach Rob Senderoff puts out one of the top starting backcourts in the MAC in juniors Kris Brewer, Derek Jackson and Devareaux Manley. Brewer is the team's leading scorer at 12.6 points per game and has elevated his game since the beginning of conference play. Brewer is averaging 15.0 points and 3.5 assists while establishing himself as the team's go-to player down the stretch. He has scored at least nine points in the final 10 minutes of the last three games.

Manley has shown that he is more than just a long-range shooter and has been one of the team's most consistent players in recent weeks. His 12.0 points per game in MAC games is second on the team and has reached double-figures in points in four of the past five games. He has attacked the basket more frequently and attempted 21 free throws in four conference games, which is more than he shot in 50 games during his first two collegiate seasons.

Jackson is second on the team in scoring (10.9) and ranks fourth in the MAC in steals per game (1.9). He is averaging 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals over the past three games.

Seniors Darren Goodson and Mark Henniger see the bulk of the time on the interior for the Flashes. Goodson, who has come off the bench in recent weeks, is averaging 9.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and a team-best 2.6 assists per game. Henniger leads Kent State in rebounding (5.4) while adding 8.4 points per game.

Sophomores Kellon Thomas, K.K. Simmons and Khaliq Spicer lead a bench that has provided a boost throughout the season and is averaging 24.1 points per game.

Western Michigan opened conference play with an 87-76 victory over Toledo, but enters Thursday with back-to-back losses that includes a 37-point performance against Eastern Michigan.

The Broncos average 71.4 points per game and are one of two teams with three of the top 15 scorers in the MAC. Guard David Brown is averaging a MAC-leading 18.9 points per game this season, which ranks 49th nationally. Brown has found his stroke from long range in league games, as he leads the MAC in three-pointers (12) and is shooting .400 from the three-point line (.258 entering league play).

Center Shayne Whittington is regarded as one of the top post players in the league. The preseason All-MAC selection is averaging 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, on the season, which is third in the MAC. Forward Connar Tava shoots better than 60-percent from the field to lead the MAC and adds averages of 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. In league play, he has increased those averages to 15.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

The Broncos do not go as deep as the Flashes, with only seven players averaging at least 10 minutes in league play. Guard Austin Richie (7.4 ppg) is the only other Bronco to have scored in double-figures more than twice this season.

Tickets
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. The MAC 3-Pack is also still available. Fans can purchase a general admission ticket to any three MAC men's basketball games at the M.A.C. Center (excluding the rivalry game with Akron on Feb. 1) for just $18.

Quick Flashes
• Kent State has won 36 of its last 39 games against schools in the MAC West.
• The Flashes lead with MAC with 7.4 three-point field goals per game. Five players have made at least 14 trifectas on the season.
• Despite having just one player among the MAC's top 20 scorers, KSU ranks third in scoring as a team (73.4 ppg).
• The Flashes are getting huge bench contributions and have received 15 or more points from their reserves in each game.
• The Flashes committed a season-low six turnovers vs. Bucknell and average the 47th-fewest per game in the nation.

Series History
• Kent State leads the all-time series 59-54.
• The Golden Flashes saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end last season with an 82-76 loss to the Broncos in Kalamazoo.
• The Flashes are 37-16 as the home team and have won 10 straight at the M.A.C. Center. The last time WMU won in Kent was Feb. 17, 1996.
• Each of the past four meetings have gone down to the wire. WMU's six-point victory a year ago was the largest margin of victory, but the Broncos trailed late in the game before taking the lead with just 1:41 to play.
• The Flashes won the four games prior to that by an average of only 2.8 points with one game going to overtime.

TV / Radio
Ty Linder (play-by-play) and Dave Carducci (color) will bring you the action on 640 AM WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel.

Next Up For Kent State
The Flashes travel to MAC West favorite Toledo on Sunday (Jan. 26) for a 6 p.m. tip-off.

Golden Flashes Host Broncos in Thursday MAC Tilt

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