Kent State University
4-2
Loyola University Chicago
4-1
Second-half comeback falls short as Flashes lose, 69-61
11/29/2014 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State put together three second-half runs but was unable to overcome an 18-point halftime deficit in a 69-61 road loss to Loyola Chicago at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday.
The Flashes trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half and entered the locker room trailing 40-22 before battling back to pull as close as three points. However, too many missed opportunities down the stretch prevented Kent State from completing the comeback.
"You have to make layups, you have to make free throws, and you have to play like we did in the second half all game long," said Rob Senderoff. "Tonight's effort wasn't good enough."
The Flashes opened the second half with a 13-2 run. Three-pointers by Kris Brewer, Derek Jackson and Kellon Thomas keyed a second run that pulled the Flashes within three points at 53-50 with 7:12 to play.
Jackson finished with a team high 15 points and five rebounds in 34 minutes off of the bench. Jimmy Hall and Kellon Thomas added 10 points each while Khaliq Spicer pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Kent State shot 50 percent (16-for-32) from the field in the second half after an ugly 25.9 percent (7-for-27) in the first 20 minutes. While they battled back after halftime, the Flashes could not overcome their 43.8 percent foul shooting, 13 turnovers and a 36-32 rebounding deficit.
Christian Thomas scored 16 points to lead four Loyola scorers in double-figures. Devon Turk added 15 points and Montel James scored 11 and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Jeff White came off of the Ramblers' bench with 13 points.
Loyola torched the nets for 57.1 percent from both the floor (16-for-28) and arc (4-for-7) while building their 18-point halftime lead. For the game, the Ramblers shot 51.1 percent (24-for-47) compared to Kent State's 39 percent (23-for-59).
The Ramblers improved to 4-1 while the Flashes dropped to 4-2.
Kent State goes on the road for games at Kennesaw State on Dec. 6 and Arkansas-Little Rock on Dec. 14 before returning home to face North Carolina A&T on Dec. 19.
PRESS CONFERENCE
