Kent State University
15-5, 6-1MAC
Central Michigan University
14-4, 4-3MAC
Flashes' defense dominates in 63-53 win over Central Michigan
1/27/2015 10:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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KENT, Ohio – Kent State's defense shut down Central Michigan's offense in a 63-53 home win on Tuesday night as the Golden Flashes held the Chippewas 30 points below their season scoring average.
Add in last week's win over Toledo and the Flashes have held the two highest-scoring teams in the Mid-American Conference a total of 44 points below their averages in back-to-back victories at the M.A.C. Center. Those two wins are part of a current six-game winning streak that has the Flashes (15-5, 6-1) alone atop the MAC's overall standings and one game up in the East Division.
The West Division-leading Chippewas (14-4, 4-3), who came into the day leading the nation in three-point makes per game at 11.3, managed just 4-of-23 from beyond the three-point arc as Kent State improved on its No. 10 national ranking in defending the three (4.3 per game).
"Our guys are upping the defensive effort every game and taking great pride in it," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "Derek Jackson starts it. His defensive effort for 39 minutes was just phenomenal. Devareaux Manley is playing the best defense of his life. Kris Brewer played great. Gary Akbar gave us a lift off the bench. Khaliq Spicer and Jimmy Hall challenged and blocked shots at the rim, and we were very good on the defensive boards."
Brewer and Manley led the Flashes with 16 points each, while Hall added a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double. The 15 boards matched Buffalo's Justin Moss for the most in a MAC game this season and helped Kent State control Tuesday's rebounding advantage 43-25.
Hall and Spicer also combined for six blocked shots with Spicer rejecting four in just 17 minutes of action.
Kent State took a 24-23 lead into the half thanks in large part to a four-point play by Manley at the 4:09 remaining in the half to tie the game, and a three by Brewer with 3:45 on the first-half clock that put the Flashes up by one.
After a three by Central's Braylon Rayson on their first possession of the second half, the Flashes seized control behind a 17-0 run. Manley scored seven straight to get the Flashes started and Hall added added six during the run.
"That was as good a start to a half as we've had all season long," said Senderoff. "It really got the crowd into it."
But almost as soon as Kent State built its biggest lead at 15 points (41-26) on a pair of Hall free throws with 13:21 remaining, Central answered with a run of its own. Full court pressure turned into a string of Kent State turnovers, and by the 8:33 mark, the Chippewas were within three points at 43-40.
"They sped us up a little bit, which is rare," said Senderoff. "They did a good job with that, and we'll learn from it. We'll watch film and get better at handling that pressure by our next game."
After a three-pointer by Brewer with 8:03 to play stopped the bleeding, the Flashes found the defensive stops and the free throws they needed down the stretch to secure their sixth consecutive victory.
Central was led by Chris Fowler, who scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Braylon Rayson and John Simons added 10 points each, but combined to go 2-for-12 from three-point range.
"I thought we did a great job on Fowler, who is a dynamic player," said Senderoff. "He got his points, but I thought our guys made it difficult for him."
Central shot just 33.9 percent from the field (19-for-56) and also struggled from the foul line (11-for-19, 57.9 percent). After making 2-of-3 three-point field goals prior to the first media timeout, the Chippewas made just 2 of their final 20.
Kent State is back in action on Friday at 10 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPNU at Buffalo.
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