Kent State University
7-4,4-3MAC
University of Toledo
13-4,8-1MAC
Flashes Fall to Toledo on the Road
1/23/2021 3:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TOLEDO, Ohio- In a game that saw 12 ties and 14 lead changes, the Kent State men's basketball team (7-4, 4-3 MAC) came up short as the Flashes fell to Toledo, 76-74 on Saturday afternoon at Savage Arena.
KSU overcame an 11-point deficit early in the second half and took a 62-59 lead with six minutes remaining to play. The two teams dueled until the very end by trading baskets and lead changes. With 40 seconds remaining, senior Danny Pippen drove to the hoop for a layup closing Toledo's lead to just one, 74-73. The Rockets missed a layup but after a KSU rebound, the Flashes turned the ball over giving Toledo an easy fast-break layup that extended the Rockets' lead to 76-73.
The Flashes got the ball back when Pippen was fouled and sent to the line with 2.4 left. Pippen made the first free throw and purposely missed the second and Toledo lost the rebound out of bounds giving KSU the ball back. Trailing 76-74, the Flashes got the ball back with 1.7 seconds remaining with a chance to tie the game with a basket. Senior Mike Nuga fired up a jumper but it failed to go in as the Rockets secured the 76-74 victory.
Pippen notched his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Nuga led the Flashes in the scoring column with 19 points on 6-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-9 from long range. Senior Tervell Beck rounded out the double-figure scoring for KSU with 16 points.
For the game, Kent State shot 25-of-61 (41 percent) from the floor and 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from beyond the arc. The Flashes won the battle of the boards, 41-31, and outscored the Rockets in second-chance points, 18-4.
Kent State returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 2 as the Flashes are back on the road to face Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
