Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Flashes Tame Broncos For First Conference Win
1/8/2019 10:49:00β―PM | Men's Basketball
Philip Whittington records third double-double of the season along with a career-high 15 rebounds.
KENT, Ohio- Jaylin Walker scored 23 points and Philip Whittington eclipsed career-highs with 13 points and 15 rebounds as Kent State won its first conference game with an 88-73 win over Western Michigan on Tuesday at the M.A.C. Center.
With the win, Kent State improves to 12-3 overall and 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
Walker and Whittington added to the quintet of Golden Flashes scoring in double-figures as Antonio Williams added 14 points, Mitch Peterson scored 13, and Jalen Avery finished with 12 points, a career-high seven rebounds, and eight assists.
It was the Flashes defense that played a big role in the win, consistently stifling the Broncos (6-9, 0-2 MAC) and holding the visitors to a 38.1 percent (24-of-63) shooting on the night and caused 16 Bronco turnovers converting 19 points off them.
The Broncos started off the half with an opening 3-pointer, but the Flashes quickly answered with a 5-0 scoring run to put Kent State ahead 7-3. The Flashes held Western Michigan scoreless for 1:45 as Kent State went on another scoring run that was highlighted by a dunk from Antonio Williams off a BJ Duling steal.Β
With 7:58 in the opening half, the Flashes extended their lead out to 25-15 with the help from a 9-2 run which forced the Broncos to take a timeout in hopes to stop the red hot Flashes. At the under-five mark, CJ Williamson got on the board with a 3-pointer followed by a pull-up jumper to put the Flashes up 37-22.
Kent State would end the first half on a 10-2 run with Walker draining a shot beyond the arc at the buzzer to send the Flashes into the locker room with a 44-31 lead headed into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, the Flashes extended its lead to 18 points after an Avery 3-pointer within the first three minutes of the second half. Western Michigan's offense started to get into a rhythm after using a 16-2 scoring run to cut Kent State's lead to 52-48. Back-to-back treys from Walker and Peterson put the Flashes back up by double-digits, 62-50 with 11 left to play.
The Broncos went on to score five straight points that ended on a Western Michigan 3-pointer to cut the Flashes lead to eight, but a second-chance layup by Whittington ignited Kent State's final scoring run to put away the 88-73 victory.
The Flashes won the battle of the boards and out-rebounded the Broncos 36-34. Kent State came away with nine offensive rebounds with six coming from Whittington, which helped the Flashes score 13 second-chance points. As a team, Kent State shot 33-of-62 (53.2 percent) from the floor and 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from long range all with the help from 20 total assists.
Kent State returns to the court on Jan. 12 when the Flashes travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. To face Eastern Michigan in their first MAC road game of the campaign. Tip-off is slated for noon and can be seen on ESPN +.
