Kent State University
Central Michigan University
Flashes Look to Return to Winning Ways Tuesday at MAC West Favorite Central Michigan
2/1/2016 7:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes Video Live Stats Audio
Kent State (15-6, 6-2 MAC) enters February in a familiar spot—atop the Mid-American Conference standings—and goes back on the road to face a Central Michigan team (12-9, 5-3 MAC) that was selected by the media to cut down the nets at the conference tournament in March. Both teams shared the 2015 regular season championship with Buffalo and the Chippewas returned all five starters and 90-percent of its scoring, while the Golden Flashes lost their entire backcourt from last season.
The Flashes saw their five-game win streak come to an end on Friday night in a 72-61 loss at Ohio University. Jimmy Hall had his way inside with 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way. However, the backcourt trio of Xavier Pollard, Kellon Thomas and Jaylin Walker combined for 59 points to lead Kent State to victory in the first matchup, but were only able to contribute 9 points in 43 minutes of the rematch. Deon Edwin and Galal Cancer played well in increased playing time. Edwin scored 11 points, his most against an NCAA Division I opponent, and Cancer totaled season-highs with 9 points and 3 steals.
The frontcourt of Jimmy Hall (16.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Khaliq Spicer (6.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Chris Ortiz (7.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) has helped Kent State control play around the basket. The Flashes own a +4.5 rebounding advantage while outscoring opponents 35.2-26.3 in the paint and 12.5-9.1 on second chance opportunities.
The Golden Flashes' backcourt is led by Kellon Thomas, who has played well in his return to the court after being sidelined for all but eight games during the 2014-15 season and is averaging a career-high 12.4 points per game.
Scouting Central Michigan
Central Michigan is 10-1 at home this season with the lone loss coming in its conference opener to Eastern Michigan on January 6 (99-80). The Chippewas average 76.6 points per game, but have reached that mark just once in the last five games. Central Michigan makes 9.7 three-point field goals per game, which ranks 17th in the country. Nearly half of the Chippewas' field goal attempts (47.3-percent) come from beyond the arc. The three-point shot accounts for 38.6-percent of their scoring (6th in the nation) and just 41.7-percent comes on two-point shots (342nd in the nation). Central Michigan's guard-heavy lineup takes excellent care of the ball, as they rank 9th in the country in turnovers per game (10.1) and lead the MAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.32).
All-MAC point guard Chris Fowler was sidelined for the first seven games of the season, as Central Michigan struggled to a 3-4 start. Fowler, who was named MAC West Player of the Week on Monday following a week that included a season-high 27 points vs. Bowling Green, leads the Chippewas with 6.0 assists per game and adds 16.1 points per game. Braylon Rayson leads the team with 16.8 points per game and Rayshawn Simmons adds 13.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. Rayson, John Simons (9.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Josh Kozinski (8.1 ppg) have all made at least 48 three-point field goals this season.
Series History
• Kent State leads the all-time series 45-30.
• The Kent State-Central Michigan series dates back to the 1949-50 season and an 66-48 Kent State win at home.
• The Golden Flashes have won 21 of the last 23 meetings with the Chippewas.
• The Chippewas stopped a 12-game drought with a 78-73 overtime victory in Mount Pleasant in the first meeting between the teams during the 2013-14 season. Prior to that, CMU had not defeated KSU since the 2003 Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game (77-67).
• Central Michigan has enjoyed homecourt advantage in the series, owning a 19-17 record in Mt. Pleasant overall. The Flashes had won on 12 straight visits to Mount Pleasant prior to 2014.
FLASHback to Last Meeting
• Kent State's defense shut down a high-powered Central Michigan offense in a 63-53 home win as the Golden Flashes held the Chippewas 30 points below their season scoring average on January 27, 2015.
• CMU's Josh Kozinski provided instant offense with back-to-back three-pointers on his first two offensive possessions off the bench to give the Chippewas a 10-5 lead at the first media timeout.
• Kent State took the lead following a 7-0 run and held CMU without a field goal for 8:01.
• Derek Jackson sank a pair of free throws in the final minute of the first half to put the Flashes ahead, 24-23, at the intermission.
• CMU got a defensive stop to open the second half and then went head on a three-pointer by Braylon Rayson.
• KSU answered by scoring 17 straight points over the next 7:34 to take control of the contest.
• Kris Brewer and Devareaux Manley led the Flashes with 16 points each,
• Jimmy Hall added a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double as Kent State controlled the battle on the boards, 43-25.
• Khaliq Spicer provided excellent rim protection with four rejections in just 17 minutes of action.
• The West Division-leading Chippewas, who came into the game leading the nation in three-point makes per game at 11.3, managed just 4-of-23 from beyond the three-point line.
• CMU 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.
TV/Radio
Jeff McCarragher and Bob Donewald will have the call on American Sports Network, while Ty Linder will bring you the action on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel and 640 WHLO.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will begin a stretch of four of five games at the M.A.C. Center when they host Toledo at 7 p.m. on Saturday as part of the double-header with the women's basketball team.
