Kent State University
University of Akron
MAC Race Heats Up as Flashes Host Zips in Rivalry Game Friday on ESPNU
2/18/2016 6:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes Video Live Stats Audio
Kent State (17-9, 8-5 MAC) will host rival Akron (21-5, 10-3 MAC) in a matchup that has huge Mid-American Conference regular season championship implications Friday night at 6 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.
For the second time in as many meetings this season, Kent State needed overtime to take care of Western Michigan after allowing a 12-point second half lead to be erased. The Golden Flashes caught a break when a loose ball found Khaliq Spicer, who scored to go ahead by two points with :24 to play in regulation. However, Thomas Wilder scored on a drive to the basket with 1.1 on the clock to tie the game. The Flashes were able to string together enough stops in overtime, holding the Broncos to 1-of-6 shooting, to earn their 11th home victory of the season. Kent State caught fire from the three-point line, making 13-of-26 from long range. Galal Cancer poured in a career-high 24 points to lead five Flashes in double-figures. Jimmy Hall and Kellon Thomas scored 15 points each, while Deon Edwin and Chris Ortiz chipped in 13 points apiece.
The frontcourt of Jimmy Hall (16.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Khaliq Spicer (7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Chris Ortiz (7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) has helped Kent State control play around the basket. The Flashes own a +3.9 rebounding advantage while outscoring opponents 34.1-27.2 in the paint and 12.4-9.0 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 12.1 points per game. Deon Edwin (5.9 ppg) and Galal Cancer (5.7 ppg) have stepped up their scoring in recent games in the absence of Xavier Pollard (12.2 ppg) and Jaylin Walker (7.8 ppg).
100-Year Anniversary of a Rivalry
When the game was selected for broadcast by ESPNU, it was moved from February 20 to February 19, which is 100 years to-the-date after the very first meeting between the rival schools on the hardwood. Akron won that game, which was played in Kent, by a score of 37-16.
Quick Flashes
• Six Golden Flashes have scored at least 20 points in a game this season and have had multiple 20-point scorers in three games (at Pitt; vs. Ohio; at Ball State).
• Kent State made a season-high 13 three-point field goals on Tuesday and had its highest shooting percentages from the 3-point arc (13-of-26; .500) and free throw line (18-of-21; .857).
• The Flashes are 8-1 when committing fewer than 10 turnovers.
• Kent State is 16-2 when holding opponents under 48-percent shooting and 1-7 when opponents shoot greater than 48-percent.
• Jaylin Walker posted career-highs with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists vs. #18 SMU (Dec. 22) to become the first Kent State freshman with a 20-point performance since all-time leading scorer Trevor Huffman (21 vs. Miami, 1/20/99)
• The Golden Flashes outrebounded Youngstown State, 53-34, in the season opener. The 53 rebounds are the most by a KSU team since Dec. 6, 2008 vs. Western Carolina.
Scouting Akron
The three-point line has played a huge role in Akron's success this season. In addition to ranking second in the country in three-point field goals per game (11.7) and 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.397), Akron owns the nation's 3rd-best three-point defense (.281). As a result, the Zips have scored 462 more points from the three-point line than their opponents this season.
The Zips lead the MAC in scoring margin (+9.8 ppg) and rank third in the conference in points allowed (67.8 ppg) and fourth in scoring (77.7 ppg).
Akron is a much different team at home (12-0) than in true road games (6-5). The Zips average 6.9 more points, 1.3 more three-pointers, 7.0 more free throws and 3.3 fewer turnovers per game at James A. Rhodes Arena than on the road. Additionally, Akron allows 9.2 fewer points per game and shoots 4.3-percent better from the three-point line in home games.
A balanced offense that features four players averaging in double-figures is led by Isaiah Johnson (12.8 ppg), who also pulls down a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game. Antino Jackson (11.8 ppg, 3.7 apg) and Noah Robotham (10.8 ppg, 4.2 apg) form one of the MAC's top backcourt duos.
Series History
• Kent State leads the all-time series vs. Akron, 72-71.
• The series dates back to the 1915-16 season and a 37-16 Akron victory in Kent.
• The first team to score 60 points in the rivalry has won 33 of the last 37 games in the series. Neither team hit that mark in the 2013-14 regular season finale, a 58-54 Akron win, or last season's MAC Tournament quarterfinals, a 53-51 Akron win.
• Eight of the last nine matchups have been decided by four points or fewer.
• Homecourt advantage has been huge in the rivalry with the home team owning an 87-47 record all-time.
• Kent State is 48-24 all-time against the Zips at the M.A.C. Center
• Head coach Rob Senderoff owns a 3-8 record vs. Akron.
Wagon Wheel Challenge
• The 2015-16 academic year marks the fifth installment of the Wagon Wheel Challenge between rivals Kent State and Akron. Kent State has won the competition in each of its first four years of existence.
• The winner of Friday's game will earn a half-point for its school in this year's Wagon Wheel Challenge.
• Kent State currently holds an early 3.0-2.5 lead in the Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
• The Golden Flashes earned points following a wins by women's cross country and women's soccer and a season sweep by volleyball.
FLASHback to Last Meeting
• Just six days after losing at the buzzer in the regular season finale at the M.A.C. Center, Akron avenged the loss with a 53-51 win in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on March 12, 2015.
• Devareaux Manley's three-pointer was released after time expired, resulting in the Zips' third win in four days.
• A terrific defensive performance over the first 20 minutes gave Kent State a 27-19 lead at halftime. The Golden Flashes held the Zips to just 7-of-29 shooting (24.1%), including 2-of-14 from the three-point line (14.3%).
• Kent State used an 18-4 run to take its largest lead of the game, 27-14, on a layup by Jimmy Hall with 1:51 remaining in the first half.
• However, Akron scored the final five points of the have to swing momentum back in its favor heading into the locker room.
• The Zips scored 10 of the first 14 points of the second half to pull within four points and force the Flashes to call timeout.
• Pat Forsythe scored five straight points to give Akron its largest lead of the game, 44-41, with 6:44 to play.
• The Flashes answered with six straight points to go back ahead by three.
• Reggie McAdams converted a four-point play to even the score at 51-51 with 1:42 on the clock.
• After a shot clock violation on Kent State's next possession, Deji Ibitayo drew a foul on a drive into the lane and made both free throws.
• Kris Brewer, who was the hero on Senior Night six days earlier, missed two shots on Kent State's next possession. The second shot hung on the rim before
somehow rolling out.
• Nyles Evans split a pair of free throws for Akron, giving Kent State a chance to send the game to overtime or win on a final shot for the second game in a row.
• Brewer shot faked after the catching the ball in the corner, but slipped on his way to the basket and having to throw the ball out to Manley as he fell to the floor. Manley, who was just 1-of-6 from the three-point line, made the shot, but it was waved off by the officials.
• Although both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket, they combined for only eight turnovers.
• Jimmy Hall led all players with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
• Derek Jackson added 12 points for the Flashes.
• Forsythe made a huge impact off the bench for Akron with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 3 rebounds and a block in just 13 minutes.
• Antino Jackson (11 points) and Isaiah Johnson (10 points) also scored in double-figures for the Zips.
TV/Radio
Jim Barbar and Mark Adams will have the call on ESPNU, while Ty Linder and David Carducci will bring you the action on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel and 640 WHLO.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes go back on the road for games at Buffalo on February 23 and Miami on February 27.
