Kent State University
Ohio University
Flashes Bash Bobcats at the Convo
1/15/2019 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio- The Kent State men's basketball team got their first conference road win of the season after taking down the Ohio Bobcats, 66-52, on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center. Senior Jaylin Walker became Kent State's career 3-pointer leader with 248 threes.
The Flashes improved to 13-4 overall on the season and 2-2 in conference play.
Three Flashes scored in double-figures with Walker leading the way with 21 points. Senior Jalen Avery added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while junior Philip Whittington recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Kent State's defense locked down the Bobcats and held them to 31.7 percent (20-of-67) shooting on the day and a mere 26 points in each half.
The Flashes started off the game fast taking an 11-4 lead within the first six minutes of play. After holding the Bobcats scoreless for 2:32, a second-chance layup from CJ Williamson put the Flashes up 16-7. Ohio answered back with a 5-0 scoring run that cut Kent State's lead to 16-10.
The back-and-forth scoring continued for the two teams before Walker hit back-to-back 3-pointers that put the Flashes ahead 32-22. Walker wasn't finished shooting beyond the arc as he drilled his third of the night, making him the program's leading 3-point scorer. Ohio would cash in on a late layup, but the Flashes went into the break with a 37-26 lead.
After the teams traded baskets for the opening four minutes of the second half, Ohio held the Flashes scoreless for 2:13 and used an 8-0 run that brought them within one, 39-38. At the 11:59 mark the Bobcats tied the score at 41, but the Flashes would pull away after a layup from Akiean Frederick sparked the offensive efforts.
Kent State held Ohio scoreless for the next four minutes forcing three turnovers that aided in a 9-0 run by the Flashes that put them ahead 50-41. With 3:30 left to play, a trey from Avery ignited another Kent State scoring run that put Kent State ahead 63-49, the Flashes' largest lead of the game. The Flashes would hold their lead and came away with the 66-52 victory.
As a team, Kent State shot 23-of-53 (43.4 percent) from the floor and went 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from long range. Although the Bobcats won the battle of the boards, the Flashes forced 15 Ohio turnovers, converting 16 points off the miscues.
Kent State returns home for a three-game homestand. The Flashes will host Northern Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., followed by a matchup with Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. Kent State will close out the homestand with a Friday night game on Jan. 25 with Buffalo.
