Kent State University
12-10, 3-6MAC
Central Michigan University
8-13, 1-8MAC
Flashes fall in overtime at Central MIchigan
2/5/2014 9:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – K.K. Simmons forced Kent State into overtime with two three-pointers in the final 45 seconds of regulation, but Central Michigan used old-fashioned three-point plays by Chris Fowler in the extra session to pull away for a 78-73 victory on Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena.
The win was the first for the Chippewas (8-13, 1-8) in Mid-American Conference play after eight consecutive losses to open the league schedule. Fowler made just one of his eight shots in scoring two points in the first half, but the Central Michigan sophomore recovered to finish with 18 points while going 5-for-7 from the field in the game's final 25 minutes.
Central forward John Simons led everyone with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The sophomore also connected on 6-for-11 from three-point range. After the Flashes built a nine-point lead with 18:40 to play in the second half, three quick threes by Simons pulled the Chippewas back into the game. By the 10-minute mark, Central was ahead by eight points.
Meanwhile, Kent State's senior leaders struggled under pressure. Darren Goodson played well for most of the 29 minutes in his 15-points and 10-rebound night. The hero of Saturday's win over Akron missed two free throws in overtime, however. And when he was called for an illegal screen with 16 seconds on the clock and the Chippeas up by three, Kent State was kept from attempting a shot to potentially force a second overtime.
Fellow senior Mark Henniger also struggled from the foul line in crunch time, going 2-for-6. As a team, the Flashes made 8-of-15 from the foul line, committed 18 turnovers, and were outscored 13-7 in second-chance points.
"We have to play better than that if we want to win," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "We have to come up with loose balls. We have to come up with long rebounds. We have to take care of the ball and make free throws. If we don't do those things we can't be successful."
After going scoreless in the game's first 39 minutes, Simmons drilled a three to pull Kent State to within a point with 45 seconds to go in regulation. He connected on another from the arc just 17 seconds later, tying the game at 61-61. When Fowler missed from 12 feet and Austin Keel missed a tip-in at the buzzer, the Flashes found themselves in overtime.
Kris Brewer scored a team-high 17 points in a fine line that included five rebounds and five assists against just two turnovers. Derek Jackson added 12 points and three rebounds in his return to Central Michigan, where he played during the first two seasons of his college career.
The Flashes led 32-25 at halftime and appeared to be in control of the game early in the second half before struggling with poise against Central Michigan's full-court pressure. Both teams turned the ball over nine times in the first half, but the game changed when Kent State suffered nine second-half turnovers compared to Central's two. The Chippewas outscored the Flashes 22-9 off of turnovers.
Khaliq Spicer was limited to just five early minutes after suffering an injury during Wednesday morning's shoot around.
Kent State (12-10, 3-6) will travel to Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
