Kent State University
3-2
George Mason
2-3
Men's Basketball Falls Close Against George Mason, 79-75
11/22/2016 5:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PDF BOX SCORE | KENT STATE GAME NOTES FOR WEDNESDAY
ESTERO, Fla. – The Kent State University men's basketball team (3-2) played its second straight game down to the wire Tuesday, but came up short at the Gulf Coast Showcase against George Mason (2-3), 79-75.
The result puts the Golden Flashes in the 11 a.m. game on Wednesday against Wofford. Both teams will enter the final game of the tournament having played two games this week that were up for grabs in the last minute.
Deon Edwin and Jimmy Hall combined to shoot 14-for-24 and each score a game-high 20 points. Hall recorded a game-high 12 rebounds and two blocks, while Edwin pulled down three boards and had a team-best three steals. He continues his streak of at least two steals in every game this season.
"Those guys are playing pretty well," said head coach Rob Senderoff. "But we've got to do a better job defensively and rebounding the ball, and that's everyone. They are certainly a part of that too, and they are scoring the ball well, but we need more."
The game was close from start to finish, with neither team leading by more than six points. The Flashes scored on their first three trips down the floor, but were the first to fall behind by six points with 8:57 remaining in the half, at 22-16. Out of a timeout, a three-point play by Hall and a 3-pointer from Jalen Avery tied the game up. The two teams were within a possession of each other for the rest of the half, and entered the locker room, tied at 38.
Both teams came out firing away in the second half and shot over 50 percent over the first 10 minutes of the period. Tied at 54, the Flashes went for a 10-4 run on a 3-pointer from Avery and three baskets in the paint from Edwin. The run gave Kent State its largest lead of the game at 64-58 with 10:42 remaining. However, the Flashes could not capitalize, and went on a four-minute stretch without a field goal.
With 1:48 left, Desmond Ridenour scored on a mid-range jumper to put his team up 75-72. Marquise Moore cut the Flash lead to one with a layup, and Jalen Jenkins earned a steal to regain possession. Up a point, Kent State recorded a stop when Alonzo Walker came from behind to swat away a layup for his second block.
With 30 seconds left, George Mason immediately fouled, but the Flashes missed the first of a one-and-one. Nine seconds later, George Mason's Otis Livingston knocked down a 3-pointer to put Kent State behind, 77-75. Out of a timeout, the game-tying shot was missed with two seconds left, and the Patriots were able to ice the game at the foul line.
Overall, Kent State shot 44.1 percent (26-for-59) from the floor, while George Mason shot 47.7 percent (31-for-65). Each team made seven 3-pointers on the day. George Mason had a slight edge in offensive rebounds, 17-14, but Kent State won the turnover battle, 11-13.
Avery and Ridenour, in his first start with Kent State, each had a team-best three assists. Avery scored a career-high 10 points while Ridenour chipped in nine. They were both 50 percent from 3-point range. Alonzo Walker came off the bench to record a career-high tying eight boards to go with six points. Jaylin Walker registered eight points and four rebounds.
"We didn't hope to play in this one, but that's where we are right now," Senderoff said. "We're just going to have to play well tomorrow, just like any game. There's a fine line between being successful and not, and we've got to cross that line."
