Kent State University
9-2
Oregon State
7-4
Break the Dam! Flashes Stun Beavers
12/21/2018 6:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CORVALLIS, Ore.- The Kent State men's basketball team stunned the Oregon State Beavers in a 66-63 win in Corvallis at the Gill Coliseum. With the win, the Flashes take two of the three games in the series between Oregon State.
Kent State improved its record to 9-2 overall after beating its second power-5 opponent of the season, while Oregon State dropped to 7-4 overall.
Head coach Rob Senderoff has now tied all-time wins leader Jim McDonald with 148 career wins.
Senior Jaylin Walker led the Flashes with 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists as two other Kent State players reached double figures on the afternoon. Senior Jalen Avery had 16 points and three rebounds, while junior Antonio Williams rounded out with 11 points and five rebounds.
Oregon State started the opening two minutes of the game with a 9-2 lead before CJ Williamson forced a turnover that set up to an Avery 3-pointer. The Beavers pulled away as they led by as much as 14 points making it 21-7 with 12:52 left to play. Kent State's offense was able to find a rhythm as it ended the period on a 35-12 run.
During the first half comeback, Avery and Walker shot a combined 7-of-9 from the floor with five treys combined. Avery stopped the Flashes' scoring drought with a corner trey followed by a 3-pointer from Williamson that cut the deficit to 21-13. The Flashes would hold the Beavers scoreless for over two minutes as a driving layup from Walker made it a one-possession game, 26-24.
A shot beyond the arc from Walker gave Kent State its first lead of the game, 27-26 with 5:30 left to play. The Flashes ended the half by holding Oregon State scoreless for over two minutes and extended their lead to 42-33.
The Flashes came out of the break with a layup from Avery that extended Kent State's lead to 44-33. Oregon State was able to put together a scoring drive as the Beavers used a 7-0 run that made it a 52-51 Kent State advantage, but a layup by junior Philip Whittington followed by a Walker three pulled the Flashes ahead 57-51 with over seven left to play.
Oregon State made it a one-possession game at the 5:42 mark, but Walker kept the Flashes' lead alive and knocked down a well-contested 3-pointer which made it 60-54. OSU would not knock down a field goal over the next three minutes of play and with 1:34 remaining, Walker scored on an acrobatic jumper that put the Flashes up 64-60.
With a minute left on the clock, the Beavers cut the Flashes' six-point lead to one, but Walker brought down a rebound with 20 seconds left and drew a foul completing both free throws. With 12 seconds left to play, Oregon State had a chance to tie, but Kent State held on and came away with the 66-63 victory.
As a team, Kent State shot 22-of-55 (40 percent) from the field and connected on 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) long-range shots. The Flashes defense held the Beavers to only 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from 3-point range and 23-of-57 (43.9 percent) from the field. Kent State won the battle of the boards, 35-33, and scored 11-second chance points.
The Flashes are back in action as they wrap up non-conference play with a two-game homestand. Kent State takes on Albany Friday, Dec. 28 in the M.A.C. Center at 7 p.m.
