Kent State University
21-11
University of Akron
20-13
Flashes fall to Zips in MAC Tournament quarterfinals
3/12/2015 11:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Time expired just before Devareaux Manley released what would have been the game-winning three-pointer as Kent State watched its Mid-American Conference Tournament hopes come to an end in a 53-51 quarterfinal setback to the University of Akron on Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena.
"I'm extremely proud of this team, especially our seniors. I won't let this loss define the season and what this team accomplished. We were regular season champions. We won 21 games. We just had a bad night tonight. But give Akron all the credit. Last week, we made one more play than them, and tonight they made one more play than we did," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff.
The Golden Flashes (21-11) led 51-47 with two minutes to play, but watched the Zips (21-13) battle back to score the final six points behind a long three by Reggie McAdams at the 1:42 mark and a pair of free throws by Deji Ibitayo with 38 seconds remaining.
"That was a big shot by McAdams," Senderoff said. "They ran a flare for him and we were a little late in switching, but it wasn't an uncontested shot. If he misses, the outcome is probably different.
Kent State had its chances in the closing seconds, but watched a driving layup by Kris Brewer roll out. Akron knocked the rebound out of bounds, giving the Flashes another chance to take the lead, but Brewer missed a 10-footer. After Nyles Evans converted one of two free throws, Kent State got the ball back for a final time with seven seconds to play. The Flashes couldn't get off a shot to tie or win as Brewer slipped in traffic before flipping the ball to Manley, whose desperation three pointer was attempted and made just after the buzzer sounded.
Kent State led by as many as 13 points while taking a 27-19 lead into the half. The Flashes held the Zips to just 7-for-29 from the field and 2-for-14 from three-point range in the first half.
Jimmy Hall led all scorers with 14 points to go with seven rebounds and two blocks before fouling out in the closing seconds. Derek Jackson added 12 points and five rebounds.
Akron was led by Pat Forsythe's 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench. Antino Jackson and Isaiah Johnson added 11 and 10 points respectively.
The Zips finished the night at 34 percent shooting from the field (16-for-47) and 21 percent from the three-point arc (5-for-24). Kent State shot 34.6 percent from the field (18-for-52 and just 11 percent on threes (2-for-17).
Kent State will learn its postseason destination this weekend.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
