Kent State University
12-14, 6-7MAC
University at Buffalo
19-7, 11-2MAC
Second-Half Surge Not Enough in 84-72 Loss at Buffalo
2/13/2018 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AMHERST, N.Y. - Kent State put up another second-half fight against Buffalo, but the Golden Flashes couldn't overcome a rocky first-half performance in an 84-72 loss to the Mid-American Conference East Division-leading Bulls on Tuesday at Alumni Arena.
Two weeks after overcoming an 18-point deficit to hand Buffalo its first loss of the season, the Flashes (12-14, 6-7) cut into a 21-point deficit, pulling to within 10 points after several possessions during the game's final five minutes. The Bulls (18-7, 10-2) found an answer every time, keeping KSU from getting over that double-digit hump.
Kevin Zabo paced a quartet of Flashes with 17 points. Jalen Avery added 16 while Jaylin Walker and Adonis De La Rosa scored 15 and 11, respectively. De La Rosa also led KSU with nine rebounds.
"In the second half, I'd like to think we played the way we are supposed to play, the way we are capable of playing, and the way we are going to play moving forward," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff.
The Flashes dug themselves a deep hole in falling behind 45-27 at the half. The Bulls shot 58 percent from the field (19-for-33) compared to Kent State's 38 percent (11-for-29), taking advantage of the pace while outscoring KSU 11-0 in fast-break points.
"That was a number of halves in a row where we have struggled," said Senderoff, whose team has lost four straight games following an 82-79 home win over Buffalo on Jan. 30. "To see us compete in the second half the way we did was, I thought, a good sign and something we are going to build on going forward."
Avery hit four consecutive three pointers in the first 4:30 after the teams returned from the locker room. Zabo added two old-fashioned three-point plays - both to pull KSU within 12 points at the 10:17 and 6:11 marks of the second half. Baskets by Zabo and Avery and threes by Walker and B.J. Duling all cut the deficit to 10 points in the final 4:38.
Buffalo's Jeremy Harris helped to keep Kent State's second-half surge in check, Buffalo's first nine points after halftime on his way to a game-high 24 points. Wes Clark added 19 points and Nick Perkins provided the Bulls with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Kent State returns to action on Saturday when arch-rival Akron visits the M.A.C. Center for a 2 p.m. "Gold Out" in the renewal of the Crystal Clinic Orthopedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge.
