Kent State University
16-16
Miami University (OH)
13-17
Men's basketball season ends in 71-64 tourney loss at Miami
3/10/2014 9:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio – A late Kent State run fell short as the Golden Flashes 2013-14 men's basketball season ended in a 71-64 loss to Miami University during round one of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Monday at Millett Hall.
The Flashes trailed by 13 points twice in the second half, but Devareaux Manley hit two contested threes and Kris Brewer found success by attacking the rim as Kent State pulled all the way back to within two points in the closing minutes.
Manley and Brewer both had open looks in transition from three-point range to leapfrog into the lead, but when both shots just missed, the door was open for the RedHawks to advance to the MAC Tournament's second round.
The loss closed Kent State's season at 16-16.
"This season was difficult for our staff, our players, and I'm sure for the fans," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "I will do everything in my power to make sure we don't have a season like this again.
"We are not that far away … But we are not where we need to be with mental or physical toughness. We have to be physically stronger. We go to the free throw line every game (less than our opponent) and give away 10 or points like this every night."
Miami outscored Kent State by 10 at the foul line, going 24-for-31 compared to Kent State's 14-for-17.
Quinten Rollins made plays down the stretch to lead his team to victory. The Miami point guard drove to the basket and twice converted difficult layups to slow the Flashes' momentum and extend two-point leads to four. Willie Moore also added an acrobatic layup late.
Moore finished with a team-high 17 points. Rollins and Will Sullivan each added 13 points while Will Felder was limited to just 10 points and five rebounds after scoring 23 and 26 points against Kent State in two regular-season meetings.
Brewer led the Golden Flashes with 15 points, while K.K. Simmons and Darren Goodson added 10 points each off of the bench. Kent State's bench outscored Miami's 31-13.
Goodson and Mark Henniger played their final games in Kent State uniforms. Henniger finished with eight points and five rebounds in 33 minutes. Manley scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Kent State converted 6-of-17 from beyond the arc.
Kent State trailed 33-31 at halftime after a 35-foot buzzer-beater by Brewer was waved off by officials after a long review of instant replay.
Miami (13-17) will take on Ohio University on Wednesday in round two of the MAC Tournament at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.
