Kent State University
1-0
Cleveland State University
0-2
Flashes Start Season with 83-79 Win Over CSU
11/10/2018 11:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Kent State University men's basketball team (1-0) started the 2018-19 season off on a high note, defeating Cleveland State (0-2), 83-79, at the Wolstein Center in the Coaches vs. Cancer Doubleheader.
The win secured the Flashes' eighth-straight season opener victory, also debuting five new faces. With the Flashes leading the entire game, the charge was led by senior Jalen Avery, who scored 23 points on 6-of-17 shooting. He also picked up three rebounds, two on offense, and a steal. Close behind was newcomer junior Antonio Williams who posted 18 points and five rebounds. Junior CJ Williamson reached 16 points in his debut as a Flash while grabbing eight rebounds. Overall, four players scored in double figures.
For CSU, Tyree Appleby had a game-high 28 points and two rebounds, while Jaalam Hill was the only other Viking to score double figures with 15 points.
The opening half remained scoreless for nearly two minutes before the Flashes would go on a 6-0 run that gave them an early 10-2 lead, highlighted by Williamson with back-to-back 3-pointers. Back-to-back corner 3-pointers by Avery, both off passes by sophomore BJ Duling, gave Kent State it's largest lead in the half, 36-26 with 3:39 remaining. A CSU layup from Eichelberger brought the Vikings within nine, but a foul drawn by junior Mitch Peterson put the Flashes up 40-30 entering the breakup.
Although both teams ended the first half both shooting 12-of-32 (37.5 percent) from the field, the Flashes edged the Vikings from beyond the arc shooting 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) to CSU's 3-of-12 (25.0 percent). Kent State grabbed 27 rebounds in the first half with five offensive allowing Kent State to score eight from second-chance points. The Flashes' defense held the Vikings' leading scorer Tyree Appleby to zero points (0-for-5) and (0-for-2 FG).
Williams started the second half hitting back-to-back jumpers which gave the Flashes a 12 point advantage (45-33), their largest lead of the game. The Vikings answered Kent State's offensive scoring with a 12-2 run that brought the Flashes' lead down to 58-55. With 10:19 left to play, a jumper by Williams ignited an 11-2 run by the Flashes that extended their lead to 68-57. With 1:11 left on the clock, the Vikings cut Kent State's lead to 79-76 with the aid of five trips to the charity stripe, but with two late free throws made by Avery, the Flashes held off the Vikings 83-79.
Overall, Kent State shot 41.4 percent from the floor (24-of-58) and 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) from 3-point range. CSU finished 44.3 percent (27-of-61) and matched the Flashes' eight treys. Kent State won the rebounding battle 27-23, but the most impressive stat was the 12 offensive rebounds the Flashes grabbed allowing to score 16 points off second-chance points.
Kent State was able to get to the free throw line 38 times and made 27 of those attempts for a 71.1 free throw percentage. The Vikings struggled from the charity stripe only making 17-of-32 (29.6 percent).
The Flashes are scheduled to return to the M.A.C. Center for their home opener against Shawnee State on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
