Kent State University
Hampton
Flashes Back Home To Battle With Hampton
12/20/2019 5:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio-Â The Kent State University men's basketball team returns home as the Flashes host Hampton on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the M.A.C. Center at 7 p.m. Saturday's game will also serve as a "sensory-friendly" game.
KSU will create a gameday experience that can be enjoyed by all. In partnership with the organization KultureCity, staff will hand out free "sensory bags" before the game with items including noise-canceling headphones, fidget spinners, and communication cards. In addition, there will be a sensory-friendly viewing area inside the arena's loge section.
THE GAME
Kent State (9-2) vs. Hampton (4-7)
Saturday, Dec. 21 | M.A.C. Center | Kent, Ohio | 7 PM
BROADCAST
TV: ESPN3 – Tanner Castora
Radio: Ty Linder (pbp), WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio
HAMPTON HEAD COACH
Edward Joyner Jr
Record at Hampton: 178-164 Â (11th season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 170-108 (ninth season)
SERIES HISTORY
- Kent State holds a 2-0 all-time series advantage over Hampton. In the most recent matchup, the Flashes defeated the Pirates, 68-43, back in 2009.
LAST TIME OUT
The Kent State men's basketball improved to 9-2 on the season after an 85-71 overtime win against NC A&T at the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invite on Tuesday night. Phil Whittington turned in a career-high 29 points and finished the night 9-of-12 from the floor, while scoring 21 points in the first half. Whittington also grabbed 12 boards and recorded his third double-double of the season. Pippen added 17 points and grabbed six rebounds while Troy Simons rounded out the double-figure scoring with 14 points.
KSU was forced to play catch-up throughout majority of the second half due to foul trouble. Down by four with 46 seconds remaining, a three from Danny Pippen brought the Flashes within one. The Aggies took a 68-65 with eight seconds remaining, giving KSU one possession to tie the game. Senior Mitch Peterson drained a corner three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, the Flashes went on a 12-0 burst and held the Aggies scoreless for over four minutes of play. KSU's defense was spot on as NC A&T's only points came from a three-pointer with two minutes remaining.
Kent State shot 27-of-66 (40.9 percent) from the floor and hit 10 3-pointers (30.3 percent). Defensively, the Flashes held the Aggies to 22-of-63 (34.9 percent) from the floor
FLASH FACTS
- The Flashes have five players averaging in double-figure scoring with Troy Simons (12.5 ppg), Anthony Roberts (12.0 ppg), Antonio Williams (14.0 ppg), Danny Pippen (14.1 ppg), and Phil Whittington (12.0).
- Kent State ranks 77th in the country and second in the conference in fewest turnovers (131).
- As a team, Kent State ranks 24th in the country and leads the conference with 5.5 blocked shots per game.
-Kent State ranks 47th in the country in scoring offense (79.3), ranking third in the conference.
- Danny Pippen leads the team with 29 total blocks, five of which he had against Towson. Kent State ranks 16th in the nation in total blocked shots (61) and lead the conference. Pippen also ranks 21st in the nation and leads conference stats averaging 2.64 blocked shots per game.
- Troy Simons ranks 27th in the nation in 3-point FG per game (3.18) and is first in conference stats.
- As a team, Kent State ranks 34th in field goal percentage defense limiting teams to 38.1 percent from the field. Â
- Defensively, the Flashes have held its opponents to 65.5 points per game on 38.1 percent shooting from the field and 32.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
- Kent State has forced 178 turnovers (16.2 tpg) while collecting 87 steals (7.9 stl/g). On the glass, the Flashes have out re-bounded their opponents 420-402Â for a +1.6 margin.
SCOUTING HAMPTON
The Pirates, stand 4-7 on the season under 11-year head coach Edward Joyner Jr after a 75-53 loss to Southern Illinois. Dondre Griffin and Greg Heckstall were the leading scorers for Hampton with 14 points apiece. Amir Smith added seven points and a game-high seven rebounds off the bench, while Ben Stanley added six and Pierre Sow had a career high matching six points and a career-high five rebounds. Fred Cleveland led the Aggies with 14 points, while Ronald Jackson added 13 points. Hampton is led by Jermaine Marrow who averages 24.9 points per game. Stanley leads the team in rebounds averaging 7.3 per game.
Defensively, Hampton has allowed its opponents to score 74.9 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Pirates have 158 turnovers (14.4 tpg) while collecting 70 steals (6.4 stl/g) On the glass, Hampton has been out-rebounded their opponents 431-428 for a -0.3 margin.
FOLLOW ALONG
Flash fans unable to attend the game can watch the game on ESPN3, listen through iHeart Radio and Tune-In and follow along with live stats via sidearm. All the links are located below.
Watch: https://es.pn/35H8enp
Listen: https://www.iheart.com/live/640-whlo-3520/
Live Stats: https://kentstatesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
