Kent State University
16-12, 8-7MAC
Buffalo
15-13, 9-6MAC
Men's Basketball Takes Down Buffalo on the Road, 77-69
2/21/2017 10:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Kent State University men's basketball team (16-12, 8-7 MAC) won its third straight game, and second on the road, over the Buffalo Bulls (15-13, 9-6 MAC) Tuesday, 77-69.
"It's never easy getting a road win, certainly not against Buffalo, a good team that's well coached with very good players," said head coach Rob Senderoff. "I'm proud of our guys. The whole team, everyone on the roster, contributed in a major way to help us get this road win."
The Golden Flashes were led by Jimmy Hall, who posted game highs of 26 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. His point total made him the eighth player ever at Kent State to cross 1,500 points, reaching that mark in three years. Tuesday, he shot 9-for-14 from the floor and 8-for-8 from the foul line. Jaylin Walker was also superb, scoring 22 points on a 4-for-12 shooting night from downtown. Jalen Avery and Kevin Zabo each had a team-best three assists, with Avery also chipping in eight points and four boards.
The first half was a strong defensive showing from both teams, playing out to a one-point home advantage at the break. Each team led by as much as six points, but never pulled away from the other. Kent State was the first to hold a six-point lead at 16-10, capitalizing off an 8-0 run. Buffalo cut into the lead quickly and held their own advantage at 26-20. Over the last four minutes, Kent State outscored Buffalo, 12-7, to enter the break trailing, 33-32.
The two teams traded blows at the start of the second half, working to a 43-43 tie with 14 minutes left. Kent State worked the ball down to the paint, building a six-point lead on two buckets from Hall and a tip in from Adonis De La Rosa. Buffalo worked its way back to a 49-49 tie, but Walker scored on back-to-back jumpers that gave Kent State the lead for the rest of the game.
Leading 54-49 with nine minutes remaining, Kent State closed the game out with strong defense. Buffalo shot 7-for-19 over the remainder of the game, staying in the contest but unable to erase the deficit. The lead was cut to three points briefly, but Kent State stayed up by multiple possessions throughout. With a 67-62 lead with 2:11 left, Avery drove right to the basket to score a layup, Kent State's final field goal of the game. The Flashes finished the night at the line, scoring the last eight points there. Kent State led by as much as 10 points in the final minute and snapped Buffalo's six-game winning streak.
Overall, the Flashes shot 45.2 percent (28-for-62) from the floor, but nearly 50 percent (15-for-31) in the second half. Buffalo was held to 41 percent (25-for-61) overall and 37.5 percent (12-for-32) in the second half. Kent State won the rebounding margin, 39-37, and the turnover battle, 11-14.
"In our last two games we have 16 turnovers combined," said Senderoff. "When we do that, we put ourselves in position to be successful. When you don't turn it over, you give yourself a chance to play half-court defense. We're pretty good in the half-court when we give ourselves a chance to play there."
Deon Edwin finished with 10 points, three rebounds and a career-high five steals. Mitch Peterson tallied seven points and seven rebounds.
The Flashes return to the M.A.C. Center Saturday for its third straight game against a top-three MAC opponent, facing Ohio at 7 p.m. on Spectrum Sports.
