Kent State University
Hiram
Men’s Basketball Hosts Hiram for 2019-20 Season Opener
11/5/2019 12:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- The 2019-20 season of Kent State men's basketball kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the M.A.C. Center as the Flashes host Hiram for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
THE GAME
Kent State (0-0) vs. Hiram (0-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 6 |M.A.C. Center|Kent, Ohio| 7 PM
BROADCAST
TV: ESPN3- Ty Linder (pbp), Tanner Castora (analyst)
Radio: Dave Wilson (pbp), WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio
HIRAM HEAD COACH
Chris Kibler
Record at Hiram: 68-62 (sixth season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 161-108 (ninth season)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Kent State leads series, 21-13
Senderoff vs. Hiram: 1-0
Last Meeting: Kent State and Hiram met back in 2016 with the Flashes coming away with a 11-55 victory.
FLASH FACTS
- Kent State returns six players from last season's team, including three starters in proven seniors Whittington, Antonio Williams (11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and CJ Williamson (6.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Other notable returners are senior Mitch Peterson (3.8 ppg), junior Danny Pippen, and lone sophomore Anthony Roberts (5.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg) who was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team.
- The Flashes will have to replace the production of two starters Jalen Avery and Jaylin Walker. Avery led the nation last season in assist/turnover ratio (5.05) and averaged 11.5 ppg, while Jaylin Walker led the team with 21.6 ppg.
-2019-20 will also mark the debut of senior Troy Simons, who sat out last season after transferring from New Mexico.
- The incoming class is highlighted by three freshman in Giovanni Santiago, Evan Bainbridge, Jeremiah Hernandez, and Kalin Bennett. Other highlights returners who will add depth are juniors Tervell Beck and Anyeuri Castillo. Beck, a transfer from UNLV, played two seasons for the Runnin' Rebels, averaging 7.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Castillo comes from Central Georgia Tech and is a versatile forward. He averaged 14.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 2.6 blocks in his last season at Central Gerogia Tech.
- Kent State returns three of its starters in Antonio Williams (11.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Phil Whittington (11.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), and CJ Williamson. Other returnees include Danny Pippen (sat out last season with injury), Anthony Roberts (5.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg), and Mitch Peterson (3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg).
- Kent State has been picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the 2019-20 MAC Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll. Senior Philip Whittington was named to the five-player Preseason All-MAC East Team.
- The Flashes finished last season 22-11 overall and 11-7 in Mid-American Conference play. Kent State fell in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament to Central Michigan and made its fifth appearance in the CIT.
SCOUTING HIRAM
- Hiram, a Division III program and member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, is under the direction of 6-year head coach Chris Kibler.
- Terriers finished the regular season at 12-14, 9-9 while getting knocked out in the opening round of the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship.
- Last season, the Terriers had five players who averaged in double figures and return three in Sherman Dean III (13.1 ppg), Jalen Kirksey (12.0 ppg), and Antonio McQueen (10.5 ppg). McQueen also led the attack on the boards averaging 7.5 rebounds per game.
