Kent State University
Robert Morris University (Exhibition)
Men’s Hoops Takes Downs Robert Morris in Hurricane Relief Exhibition
10/21/2018 4:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- The Kent State University men's basketball team prepared for the season ahead, defeating Robert Morris in an exhibition, 89-62 on Sunday at the M.A.C. Center.
With five players in double-digit scoring, the Flashes were led by senior Jalen Avery and junior Antonio Williams with a game-high 16 points. Avery shot 5-for-8 (62.6 percent) from 3-point range, while Williams went 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) from the field. Junior Mitch Peterson went 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and added two steals. Newcomer Junior CJ Williamson had a productive game in his first outing with 12 points and four rebounds. Junior Philip Whittington had a double-double and scored 10 points and brought down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Robert Morris gave Kent State a great fight throughout the game, hitting two 3-pointers to start the game, which gave the Colonials an early 10-7 lead. At the 11:17 mark, Whittington hit a layup that sparked the Flashes' 10-3 run that put them ahead 21-17 with 7:38 left in the first half. During another run by the Flashes, Peterson hit a three which put Kent State up, 34-25, their largest lead of the half. Kent State would enter the break up 37-28 after an Avery near three-point buzzer beater.
Kent State held the Colonials to 10-20 shooting (34.5 percent) in the first half. The Flashes dominated the paint, blocking two shots and outrebounding Robert Morris 37 to 28 before intermission.
The Flashes opened the second half with a shot behind the arc from Avery that ignited a 15-2 run giving the Flashes a 52-30 advantage with 15:25 left to play. Kent State held a double-digit lead for all 20 minutes, creating some breathing room with a 9-2 run. During the run, a layup by freshman Anthony Roberts put the Flashes up by 30, their largest of the game. Kent State ended the final-half 89-62.
For the game, Kent State limited Robert Morris to 22-of-56 (39.3 percent) shooting. The Colonials hit three early 3-point shots and didn't connect from behind the arc until the 9:09 mark of the second half. The Flashes' defense came away with nine takeaways to Robert Morris' five.
Overall Kent State shot 30-of-61 (49.2 percent) from the floor and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from 3-point range. Robert Morris finished 39.3 percent (22-of-56) with five treys. The Flashes won the rebounding battle by a large margin, 44-25, and made 21 free throws to Robert Morris' 13.
It was a game of new faces as seven players saw action for head coach Rob Senderoff and four tallied points in the victory.
The Flashes will start the regular season on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. against Cleveland State in the Coaches vs. Cancer Doubleheader at Cleveland State.
