Kent State University
16-8, 7-4MAC
University of Akron
17-7, 8-3MAC
Manley scores 20, but Flashes fall 61-52 at Akron
2/10/2015 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – Devareaux Manley scored a game-high 20 points, but Kent State struggled offensively as a whole in a 61-52 loss to the University of Akron on Tuesday at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Golden Flashes (16-8, 7-4 MAC) struggled to 35 percent shooting (17-for-41) and committed 13 turnovers leading to 15 Akron points. But the Flashes found themselves right in the thick of the battle with inside nine minutes to play.
A missed dunk with 8:56 to play led to a transition three-pointer by Akron's Jake Kretzer, and the five-point swing was the turning point the Zips needed to seize control of the game. They scored 10 straight as Akron (17-7, 8-3) built its largest lead at 58-41 with 6:31 remaining.
"That five-point swing was obviously a big play, but there were a lot of things we could have done better to change the outcome," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "We can't turn the ball over 13 times and allow them to make as many three-pointers as they did in the second half."
While Manley scored 20, fellow seniors Kris Brewer and Derek Jackson combined for just nine.
Kent State entered the game hoping to limit Akron's chances from three-point range. The Zips were 0-for-5 from the arc in the first half and took a slim 25-23 lead into the half. A 6-for-14 performance on threes in the second half helped Akron pull away.
Akron also controlled the paint 30-20 behind center Pat Forsythe, who led the Zips with 12 points and five rebounds. Deji Ibitayo added 11 points and five rebounds.
Chris Ortiz finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for the Flashes, who also found 10 rebounds and seven points from Khaliq Spicer. The duo helped Kent State outrebound the Zips 38-30.
Akron outscored Kent State 30-7 off of the bench and 15-8 off of turnovers.
Kent State returns to action on Friday night at Toledo in a 6 p.m. nationally-televised game at Savage Arena.
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