Kent State University
12-10, 6-3MAC
University at Buffalo
16-6, 8-1MAC
Pippen, De La Rosa Lead Furious Comeback in 82-79 Win Over Buffalo
1/30/2018 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio - Danny Pippen completed Kent State's comeback from an 18-point deficit, dropping in a layup with 37 seconds to play and blocking a shot on the other end as the Golden Flashes handed Buffalo its first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, 82-79 Tuesday at the M.A.C. Center.
The fantastic finish capped an evening that saw Pippen score a career-high 21 points to go with 13 rebounds. His starting front-court mate, Adonis De La Rosa, added 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists, including a beautiful wrap-around pass to Pippen for the go-ahead bucket.
In an odd setup for the game-winner, Jalen Avery suggested the Flashes run that specific big-to-big set during a timeout as head coach Rob Senderoff was drawing up a play.
"It was a great idea, and we were all in agreement," said Senderoff. "That shows what kind of a leader Jalen is … This was a great win, especially with how our guys won it, battling back the way they did after being down 18 in the first half. That resilience and toughness is everything you would ever want to see in a team. I'm really proud of our guys and their tremendous fight. Buffalo came into this game with the record they had for a good reason."
Buffalo (16-6, 8-1) shot 69 percent from the field in a dominating first-half performance that had the Flashes (12-10, 6-3) on their heels. An old-fashioned three-point play by Jalen Avery just before the first-half buzzer helped Kent State stay get within striking distance, down 47-34.
After scoring just two points in the first half, Jaylin Walker caught fire midway through the second half and finished with 13 points. Avery added 14 points and six assists.
Saddled on the bench in foul trouble for big chunks of the second half, Kevin Zabo watched his string of five games of 20-plus points come to an end, but his eight-point effort included one of the biggest shots of the night - a three with 3:27 remaining to pull the Flashes within four points, 77-73.
A drop-step by De La Rosa for a lefty hook with 2:30 on the clock followed by a Walker driving layup with 1:18 to play deadlocked the score at 77-77 and set the stage for the heroics of the final minute.
Buffalo followed its sizzling first half by shooting just 40 percent (10-for-25) in the final 20 minutes. Jeremy Harris led Buffalo with 20 points. Nick Perkins added 15 and Wes Clark and Davonta Jordan scored 12 each.
Kent State travels to Bowling Green on Saturday before returning home Tuesday, Feb. 6 to face Eastern Michigan.
