Kent State University
Norfolk State
Flashes Collect Fifth Straight Win against Norfolk State, 78-67
12/1/2018 7:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- Junior forward Philip Whittington scored a career-high 16 points en route to Kent State's fifth-straight win of the season in a 78-67 win over Norfolk State at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday.
With the win, Kent State improves to 7-1 overall, while Norfolk State fell to 4-6 on the season.
Whittington led the Flashes with 16 points to go with nine rebounds and an assist as four Kent State players reached double figures on the evening. Junior Jaylin Walker had 15 points, junior Antonio Williams added 14 points, and senior Jalen Avery tallied 11 points and a game-high five assists.
Kent State was able to take control of the game with a hot-shooting start to the second half. The Flashes converted 15-of-26 field goals out of the break to extend its 30-21 halftime lead to as many as 18 points (70-52) and put the contest out of reach.
The opening half remained scoreless for a little over two minutes until Norfolk State scored the first points on the board before the Flashes answered with two made free throws by Whittington. The offensive momentum continued for Kent State as a steal by Walker aided in a fast break dunk by junior CJ Williamson that tied the game at 4-all. A deep 3-pointer from freshman Anthony Roberts was the beginning basket to the Flashes 12-1 run at the 13-minute mark. During the run, Walker was responsible for nine of the 12 points, all from 3-point range, as Kent State jumped to an 18-10 lead over the Spartans.
Norfolk State would use a 5-point run of its own in attempts to cut the Flashes' lead to 20-15 with seven minutes left to play in the first half. A mid-range jumper from Whittington and a layup by Williams ended the half with Kent State headed into the locker room with a 30-21 lead over the Spartans.
In the first half, Walker led the Flashes' scoring efforts with 10 points on 3-of-7 (42.8 percent) shooting from the field and 3-of-5 (60 percent) from long range. Kent State guarded the perimeter well after holding Norfolk State to 0-of-6 from 3-point range. As a team, the Flashes finished the first half shooting 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from the field and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc.
The Flashes started the second half going on a 6-0 run fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Avery, his first points of the game, that made it 36-25 in Kent State's favor. Williams added to Kent State's lead after a deep three in front of the Flashes bench. An 11-2 run by the Flashes that lasted over three minutes forced the Spartans to take a timeout with 11:47 left to play in the game. The run, which was highlighted by a coast-to-coast layup from Roberts, extended Kent State's lead to 52-35.
The Spartans climbed back before a layup from junior Mitch Peterson capped a Norfolk State 9-0 run with 8:42 left in the game. As the Spartans got themselves within nine points at the 5:23 mark, Walker drained a well-defended trey that put the Flashes up by 12, 62-50. Back-to-back Spartan turnovers helped Williams and Williamson cash in on dunks as Kent State pulled away 70-52 during a 9-2 run with 3:00 left to play. Norfolk State's efforts continued but the Flashes would come away with a 78-67 victory.
For the game, the Flashes shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the field and 10-of-25 (40 percent) from long range. Norfolk State was limited to only 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from 3-point range and 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the floor. The Spartans won the battle of the boards, 35-28, but had 19 miscues to the Flashes' 13.
Kent State returns to action Saturday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in a matchup against Wright State in the M.A.C. Center.
