Kent State University
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University of Arkansas - Little Rock
Golden Flashes Return to Action Sunday at Arkansas-Little Rock
12/13/2014 8:53:00โฏAM | Men's Basketball
Game Notesย ย ย ย ย ย Videoย ย ย ย ย Live Statsย ย ย ย ย ย ย Golden Flashes Radio
KENT, Ohio โย After completing final exams this past week, Kent State (5-2) heads back on the road for the second of five road games this month to play Arkansas-Little Rock (4-3) on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Golden Flashes used stifling defense to return to their winning ways in a 58-46 victory at Kennesaw State last Saturday. The Flashes held the Owls to 32.6 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Kennesaw State made just five field goals in the second half, which head coach Rob Senderoff called one of the best defensive performances by a Kent State team during his 11 years with the program.
Defense has been the key to Kent State's success during the opening month of the season. The Flashes are allowing just 59.8 points per game, which ranks 33rd in the country and holding opponents to 39.4 percent shooting overall and just 30.9 percent from the three-point line.
Redshirt sophomore Jimmy Hall has provided a boost on the interior, becoming the first program's first player to score at least 10 points in his first seven games as a Golden Flash since Tyree Evans during the 2008-09 season. Hall is averaging 14.6 points per game on 50 percent shooting and also leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and blocked shots (6).
Senior guards Kris Brewer,ย Derek Jackson and Devareaux Manleyย lead a talented group of perimeter players. Brewer averages 11.4 points and 3.1 assists per game. Jackson is averaging 11.1 points and a team-best 3.4 assists per game after a career-high 11 assists in his first start at point guard at Kennesaw State. He is also shooting 50 percent from the floor while also defending the opponent's top scorer. Manley adds 10.3 points per game. The trio is shooting 46.2 percent (43-for-93) from the three-point line.
Arkansas-Little Rock (4-3) is coming off back-to-back five-point losses to Missouri State and Tulsa. The Trojans feature a potent offense that averages 76.0 points per game (54th in the nation) and are shooting 38.9 percent from the three-point line (57th). UALR takes good care of the ball and averages the 23rd-fewest turnovers in the country (10.9). ย Forward James White leads the Trojans with 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Forward Roger Woods adds 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. ย Guard Josh Hagins (10.1 ppg) leads a bench that contributes 27.9 points per game.
The Trojans are allowing 76.0 points per game, which ranks 323rd in the country. They are last in the Sun Belt in field goal percentage defense (.465) and three-point percentage defense (.431). ย
Quick Flashes
โขย Kent State leads the nation in 3-point shooting vs. Division I opponents (.462).
โขย Kent State is outscoring opponents by an average score of 32.7-27.7 in the second half.
โขย The Golden Flashes have held a 164-90 advantage in bench scoring so far this season.
โข Opponents are shooting just 22.7 percent from the three-point line this season, which ranks the Golden Flashes 15th nationally in three-point field goal defense.
โข Redshirt seniorย Derek Jacksonย recorded a career-high 11 assists last Saturday at Kennesaw State, becoming the first Kent State player with double-figure assists since Chris Singletary had 10 vs. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi on Dec. 20, 2009.
โขย The Golden Flashes return the nation's 35th highest-scoring backcourt from last season, asย Kris Brewer,ย Derek Jackson,ย Devareaux Manleyย andย Kellon Thomasย combined for 38.7 ppg.
โขย Senior guardย Kris Brewerย was selected by a MAC Media Panel to the five-player Preseason All-MAC East Team. Brewer was an All-MAC honorable mention selection last season.
โขย Redshirt sophomoreย Jimmy Hall, a transfer from Hofstra, was named Preseason MAC Newcomer of the Year byย Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
Series Historyย
โขย This will be the first meeting on the hardwood between the two schools.
โข Arkansas-Little Rock is the third of five first-time opponents on the Golden Flashes' schedule this season.ย
โขย The Flashes are 5-2 all-time vs. schools from the Sin Belt. Most recently, Kent State defeated Arkansas State, 73-69, at the M.A.C. Center on Dec. 22, 2012.
TV / Radio
Ty Linder (play-by-play) and Dave Carducci (color) will bring you the action on 640 AM WHLO and theย Golden Flashesย iHeartRadioย channel.ย
The game will also be streamed on UALRTrojans.com and can be viewed for a fee.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes are in action at the M.A.C. Center for the only time this month as it host North Carolina A&T on Friday, Dec. 19.ย
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