Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Flashes Knock Off NIU for Third MAC Win
1/19/2019 6:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kent, Ohio- The Flashes used a 19-4 second-half scoring run to claim a key 78-68 home victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.
The Flashes improve to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in Mid-American Conference play. The win is the second-straight conference win for Kent State. The Huskies fall to 10-8 (3-2 MAC).
Senior Jaylin Walker led the Flashes' scoring and rebounding efforts with 31 points and eight rebounds. Junior Antonio Williams scored in double figures with 13 points. Senior Akiean Frederick, who had his best game of the season, added 12 points and three rebounds.
The game started with a second-chance layup from Williams that put the Flashes on the board first. It wasn't until the 15:50 mark where NIU would get their first basket after the Huskies committed three turnovers. A 3-pointer from Williamson extended Kent State's lead to 11-8 with 10:59 left to play in the opening half.
The Huskies used an 11-0 run over the next 4:27 to play that gave NIU a 19-11 lead with 7:29 to play. A 3-pointer from Avery stopped the Huskies' run that cut NIU's lead to 19-14. With a minute left, a three from Walker and a long-range jumper from Philip Whittington combined for a 5-0 run that brought the Flashes within one-point of NIU, 27-26.
NIU ended the half with a jumper, but Kent State quickly answered as Williams was fouled as he threw up a last-second three sending him to the charity stripe. Williams hit 2-of-3 shots and sent the Flashes into the locker room down two, 30-28.
Walker started Kent State's scoring burst that began the second half with a 3-pointer followed by a dunk off a steal. Williams kept the run going with a dunk assisted from Avery, lifting Kent State to a 37-34 lead. A pair of corner treys from Mitch Peterson and a spinning layup from Frederick capped the Flashes 19-4 second-half run that put the Flashes ahead, 49-36 with 11 left to play.
By the 2:14 mark, the Huskies were able to close Kent State's lead to nine, but NIU would have to start fouling the Flashes after a made layup by Walker put the Flashes up 71-60 with under two to play. Kent State would make five trips to the free throw line in the last two minutes, securing the 78-68 victory.
As a team, Kent State shot 27-of-57 (47.4 percent) from the field and 7-of-25 (28 percent) from long-range. The Huskies were slightly edged in their 42.9 percent (24-of-56) shooting. NIU won the battle of the boards 33-30, allowing the Huskies to cash in on 19 second-chance points. Kent State shared the ball well as the Flashes finished with 13 assists. The Huskies had 14 miscues with the Flashes scoring 11 points from NIU's turnovers.
The Flashes are back at the M.A.C. Center as they play host to Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
