Kent State University
13-15 (7-8MAC)
Ohio University
12-15 (5-10MAC)
Men's Basketball Falls 88-76 at Ohio as Bobcats Hold Off Second-Half Run
2/20/2018 9:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio - Kent State trimmed a double-digit deficit down to just two points midway through the second half only to watch Ohio use a 12-0 run to reclaim control in a wire-to-wire 88-76 win over the Golden Flashes on Tuesday at the Convocation Center.
Adonis De La Rosa led a balanced scoring effort for Kent State with 13 points to go along with seven rebounds. Jaylin Walker, Kevin Zabo, and Desmond Ridenour added 12 points each.
B.J. Duling came off the bench to score eight points, teaming with Danny Pippen to lead a 9-0 run that cut the Bobcats lead to 62-60. Zabo capped the run with a driving layup with 9:12 remaining that forced Ohio coach Saul Phillips to take timeout.
By the time Ridenour drilled a three with 6:13 on the clock, ending the 12-0 run Ohio put together following the timeout, the Kent State deficit was right back at 11 points.
Defensive stops were difficult to come by during the opening 20 minutes as both teams attempted 32 shots - Ohio hitting 18 (56 percent) and Kent State 17 (53 percent).
Jordan Dartis helped the Bobcats build a 47-39 halftime lead from behind the three-point arc, making 7-of-15 (46 percent) compared to Kent State's 4-of-10. Dartis scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half while drilling four threes. Five other Bobcats finished the night in double figures, including 17 by Teyvion Kirk.
Ohio's shooting never cooled off. The Bobcats closed the night at 55 percent from the field (32-for-58) and 41 percent from the arc (10-for-24) with 19 of the Bobcats' 32 baskets coming off of assists. KSU made 44 percent of its shots (31-for-69) but just 24 percent from three (6-of-25) and had 10 assists. Kent State fell to 2-10 on the road.
Kent State returns home to take on Bowling Green in the second half of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. following Kent State Women's Basketball's 2 p.m. rivalry game with Akron.
