Kent State University
3-3,0-2MAC
University of Toledo
9-3,4-0MAC
Pippen’s Career Night Not Enough Against Rockets
1/5/2021 5:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- Senior Forward Danny Pippen put up a career-high 34 points for the Kent State men's basketball team (3-3, 0-2 MAC), but it was not enough to overcome a hot-handed Toledo (9-4, 4-0 MAC) team as they fell 84-82, Tuesday, inside the M.A.C. Center.
Pippen went 12-of-23 from the floor and 6-of-13 from 3-point range. He grabbed 16 rebounds to secure his first double-double of the season, while also blocking four shots. Senior Michael Nuga put up double digits with 18 points and grabbed five boards, while sophomore Giovanni Santiago added nine points on 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Toledo jumped out to a 12-6 lead, but the Flashes' offense settled in after a driving layup from Pippen started a Kent State run and closed the Rockets' lead to one, 12-11. A three-pointer from Nuga followed by a steal and two-handed dunk by Jeremiah Hernandez tied the game at 18 before Kent State would take the lead for the rest of the opening half. A three-pointer just before the first-half buzzer by Pippen sent the Flashes into the locker room with a 44-38 lead.
Kent State dominated the battle of the boards in the first half out rebounding Toledo, 26-12. The Flashes grabbed 10 offensive boards and scored 13 second-chance points to the Rockets' three.
The Flashes remained hot from beyond the arc to start the second half as Nuga and Pippen hit back-to-back three-pointers that gave Kent State its largest lead of the contest, 59-50. Toledo used an 11-0 and took a 68-65 lead with 7:05 left to play. Kent State re-gained the lead after Nuga hit a three that put the Flashes ahead 76-70 with 2:45 left to play. Toledo hit a three- pointer with 45.2 left in the game that tied the score at 82. The Rockets would pull away for good after a go-ahead layup from Rollins and would secure the 84-82 victory.
Kent State shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the floor and 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from beyond the arc. The Flashes had 14 miscues to the Rockets' six and Toledo was able to score 17 points off of turnovers.
The Flashes return to action on Saturday, Jan. 9 as Kent State faces Western Michigan at the M.A.C. Center. Tip time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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