Kent State University
Kennesaw State University
Men's Basketball Kicks Off December Road Swing Saturday at Kennesaw State
12/5/2014 12:03:00โฏPM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes ย ย ย ย ย ย ESPN3ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Live Statsย ย ย ย ย ย ย Golden Flashes Radio
KENT, Ohio -ย Kent State (4-2) looks to get back on the winning track as it hits the road to start the month of December with a noon contest at Kennesaw State (3-5) on Saturday. The Golden Flashes will play five of six games during the month on the road after playing five of six games at the M.A.C. Center to open the season.ย
The Golden Flashes have lost two straight, as they have scored just 60.0 points and been outrebounded by 6.0 rebounds per game in those losses. After allowing just one opponent to shoot better than 40 percent from the field on the way to a 4-0 start, the Flashes allowed both Yale and Loyola Chicago to make more than half of their attempts.
Overall, Kent State's defense has performed well in the early part of the season. The Flashes are allowing just 59.8 points per game and holding opponents to 40.5 percent shooting, which both rank third in the Mid-American Conference. An emphasis on defending the three-point line has resulted in Kent State leading the MAC and ranking 38th nationally in three-point percentage defense (.278).
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 six games as a Golden Flash since Tyree Evans during the 2008-09 season. Hall is averaging 15.0 points per game on 58.5 percent shooting and also leads the team in rebounding (7.0 rpg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg). He is also one of three Flashes averaging at least 2.0 assists per game.
Senior guards of Kris Brewer,ย Derek Jacksonย and Devareaux Manleyย lead a talented group of perimeter players. Brewer averages 11.3 points and a team-best 3.5 assists per game. Jackson is averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the floor while also defending the opponent's top scorer. Manley, who has come off the bench in five of six contests, adds 9.7 points per game. The trio is shooting 47.4 percent (36-for-76) from the three-point line.
Kennesaw State (3-5), which saw its three-game win streak come to an end Tuesday night with a 59-38 loss at Florida International, looks to remain unbeaten (2-0) at home this season. Yonel Brown is the Owls' top scorer at 14.3 points per game and Nigel Pruitt adds 12.0 points per game. Orlando Coleman has recorded three double-doubles on the season and contributes 8.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per gane, Kennesaw State relies heavily on its starting unit, as four players are logging at least 30 minutes per contest.
Defense has been an area of concern for Kennesaw State early in the season. The Owls are allowing 75.4 points per game, which ranks 318th in the country, and are committing 20.9 fouls per game, which ranks 283rd. Offensively, Kennesaw State averages 63.0 points per game and 18.1 turnovers per game, which is the 5th-most in the country.ย
Quick Flashes
โขย Kent State is outscoring opponents by an average score of 33.7-29.2 in the second half.
โขย The Golden Flashes have held a 141-72 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 enters the weekend with 999 career points, including two seasons at Central Michigan.
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 Kent State owns a 1-0 record all-time vs. Kennesaw State.
โขย A season ago, the Golden Flashes earned a 68-51 victory at the M.A.C. Center in the first ever matchup on the hardwood between the programs.ย
โขย Kent State is 2-1 all-time vs. schools from the Atlantic Sun Conference.
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 ESPN3. Nathan McCreary and Brian Katrek will have the call.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes travel to Arkansas-Little Rock for its second straight road game on Sunday, Dec. 14.ย
