Kent State University
12-13, 6-6MAC
Ball State University
16-9, 7-5MAC
Road Struggles Continue in 87-68 Loss at Ball State
2/9/2018 11:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Kent State's road struggles continued on Friday night in an 87-68 loss at Ball State that dropped the Golden Flashes' record in Mid-American Conference games away from the M.A.C. Center to 1-5.
The Flashes (12-13) have now lost three straight games and slipped back to .500 in MAC play since beating previously undefeated Buffalo to cap a 6-3 conference start.
Danny Pippen led the Flashes with 17 points and seven rebounds while Jaylin Walker added 15 points. Kevin Zabo and Adonis De La Rosa also scored in double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Zabo also contributed a team-high six assists.
Kent State found its biggest difficulties on the defensive end where it allowed Ball State to shoot 56.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. Trey Moses scored 22 and Tahjai Teague finished with 20 points as the duo combined to make 17 of their 22 shots. Ball State also dominated the paint, outscoring KSU 50-30 around the rim – a performance that offered a stark contrast to Kent State's 88-80 overtime victory over the Cardinals on Jan. 23 in Kent.
"It was a tough loss. They played really well and we didn't play great," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "The first time we played them, our front court really dominated theirs. Tonight, their front court, offensively at least, really dominated ours. Adonis getting into foul trouble hurt, but we have to compete harder for longer."
With De La Rosa limited to just six first-half minutes after being whistled for two quick fouls, Ball State jumped out to a 41-30 lead at halftime.
Kent State and Ball State both turned the ball over 13 times, but the Cardinals did a better job of making the most out of the miscues, outscoring the Flashes 19-9 in points off of turnovers.
Kent State stays on the road with a Tuesday trip to Buffalo before returning home on Feb. 17 to face arch-rival Akron in a 2 p.m. tip-off that will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
"We'll practice Sunday and Monday, and we'll have to have two good practices (because) we are playing against an excellent team on Tuesday," said Senderoff.
