Kent State University
9-6 (1-1MAC)
Ohio
10-3(2-0MAC)
Men's Basketball Drops First MAC Road Game at Ohio
1/7/2017 12:56:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio – The Kent State University men's basketball team (9-6, 1-1 MAC) took its first conference loss of the season on the road, falling to the Ohio Bobcats (10-3, 2-0 MAC) Friday, 85-67.
Deon Edwin led the Golden Flashes in the scoring column, with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and a team-best three assists. Jimmy Hall was the team's leading rebounder and secured a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylin Walker was the team's third scorer in double figures, with 12 points.
"There is not much to say from my end," said head coach Rob Senderoff postgame. "We didn't play very well and they played well. It's a good win for them and a bad loss for us. We are going to try and get better, and move on."
The first half started with both teams throwing haymakers, with the game quickly tied at 13 by the first timeout. The Golden Flashes took an 18-16 lead within the first seven minutes of the game, but hit a skid on offense. The Flashes went over seven minutes without a field goal, while Ohio built a sizable lead. The Bobcats took a 45-25 lead with a minute left in the half, but a Deon Edwin 3-pointer cut the deficit to 17 at the break.
Ohio continued to have the hot hand in the second half, building a 25 point lead within the first four minutes. Kent State made an attempt to get back in the game, pulling off a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 58-42 with 13:03 remaining. However, five straight points from Ohio's Jordan Dartis squashed Kent State's momentum. A tough offensive night would continue, leading to Ohio building as much as a 29-point advantage with 4:29 to go. Kent State outscored Ohio, 12-1, over the remainder of the game.
Overall, Kent State shot 36.6 percent (26-for-71) from the floor and 29.2 (7-for-24) from 3-point range. Ohio finished the night shooting 53.4 percent (31-for-58) from the floor and 32.1 percent (9-for-28) from distance. Despite the loss, Kent State won the rebounding battle, 47-35, with 22 offensive rebounds.
The Flashes return home to face Northern Illinois Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
