Kent State University
7-5
Oregon State University
4-9
Men's Basketball Downed on Late Run by Oregon State
12/22/2016 2:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Kent State University men's basketball team (7-5) dropped a road game Wednesday to the Pac-12's Oregon State Beavers (4-9), 69-50.
The Golden Flashes collected 34 offensive rebounds, 49 total, the most of any team in the NCAA this season and the program record in this century. However, the Flashes could not overcome a late second half Beaver run and a rough shooting night, finishing at 27.6 percent (21-for-76) from the floor and 4.2 percent (1-for-24) from 3-point range. Oregon State shot 54.3 percent (25-for-46) from the floor and 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from distance.
"We need to regroup, get better and learn from this game," said head coach Rob Senderoff. "We did a great job on the glass, I don't think we've ever had that many. We also had a number of steals. But to see us lose the way we lost is very disappointing."
Jimmy Hall led the way on the glass with a career-high 19 rebounds, 14 of which came on offense. He scored a team-high 14 points and had three steals for the second-straight game. Desmond Ridenour scored in double figures for the second straight game with 11, and also set new career-highs of five assists and five rebounds. Deon Edwin scored 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while Jaylin Walker tallied 10 points and six rebounds.
"(Jimmy Hall) did a good job on the glass," stated Senderoff. "There are certainly some shots that he needs to finish, but a great rebounding effort by him for sure. To me though, thinking about the team, we have to get better and get back to the way we are supposed to play."
The first half was close throughout, as neither team established a firm grip on the game. Oregon State jumped out to an 8-2 advantage, but an 8-0 run allowed Kent State to take the lead halfway through the period. The two-point lead would be short lived, as Oregon State began to heat up from 3-point range. The Beavers made five of their next six 3-point attempts in the half, including a fade away buzzer beater to end the period. Oregon State would shoot 50 percent in the first half, but turnovers would make it a one-point game at the break, 27-26.
Oregon State started the second half with two straight buckets to reestablish a six-point lead. An Edwin three-point play kept the flood gates from opening up, and the Flashes would tie the game back up at 34 all. With 12:03 remaining, a breakaway Edwin dunk gave the Flashes their only lead of the second half at 40-39.
From there, the home team established an overwhelming lead. The Beavers went on a 26-3 run over the course of nine minutes, including a five-minute scoring drought for Kent State in which Oregon State scored 18 straight. The Beavers led by as much as 65-43 with 3:15 remaining and cruised to victory.
The Flashes forced 24 turnovers Wednesday, but could only score 17 points off turnovers. Kent State committed 16 on their end.
Kent State will finish nonconference play on Dec. 27 when they travel to Austin to face Texas at 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST on ESPNU.
