Kent State University
17-17
University at Buffalo
25-8
Flashes' Run Comes Up Short in Semifinals
3/9/2018 9:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND – Kent State's string of six consecutive wins in MAC Tournament games came to an end Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Top-seeded Buffalo downed the Golden Flashes 78-61 in the semifinals, taking the season rubber match.
"We played really hard tonight, but we didn't play well," Head Coach Rob Senderoff said. "It seemed like every time we cut (Buffalo's lead) they either got a steal for a leak out or they got an offensive rebound. Give Buffalo credit. They're a good team and they played better than we did."
The hard play was exemplified by sophomore Danny Pippen, who pulled down 16 rebounds, the most in a MAC tournament game in Kent State's history.
The Flashes held leads early in the game, but the Bulls built a double digit advantage by the 6:15 mark of the first half. Buffalo shot 52 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and led 39-29 at the break.
Six minutes in the second half, the Bulls' lead grew to 18 (56-38). Kent State dug in deep and responded with an 8-0 run, including a pair of three-pointers from junior Jalen Avery, who finished with 16 points.
"Being a leader on this team, I just tried to give us a spark," Avery said. "After that, we had to get stops. And we just didn't get the stops that we needed."
Buffalo pulled away midway through the second half and led by as many as 21.
Kent State out-rebounded Buffalo 43-41, but the Flashes were held to 32 percent shooting and 28 percent from behind the arc. Three players on the Bulls' bench combined for 31 points.
Jeremy Harris led Buffalo with 22 points, going 5-of-6 from three-point range.
"They have four all-conference players and you try to take something away," Senderoff said. "And when they need a big basket (Harris) has been as good as anybody."
Pippen finished with 10 points and a double-double. Junior Jaylin Walker had 12 points and senior Kevin Zabo finished with 14, putting four Flashes in double figures.
At 17-17, Kent State awaits the possibility of a postseason tournament appearance.
