Kent State University
Southern
Flashes Host Southern to Close Non-Con Play
12/19/2021 1:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State men's basketball team (5-4) returns home to wrap up its non-conference schedule against Southern (5-6). The Flashes will wear black jerseys on Sunday before heading into the holiday break.
Sincere Carry and Justyn Hamilton teamed up to pour in over half of the Flashes points in the loss to West Virginia. Carry led the Flashes with 18 points - his fourth game of the year with 18+ points. Hamilton recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds against WVU.
The Flashes are one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation, making 81.3 percent of their foul shots. Carry is connecting on 87 percent of his free throws, while Jacobs is making 86 percent of his. The duo has combined to make 59 free throws this season, while the rest of the team has made 50 combined.
Kent State's defense has been picking up the pressure over the past two games, forcing 26 turnovers over that stretch. Against WVU, the Flashes forced a season-high 16 turnovers against a D-I opponent. Malique Jacobs led the way with three steals.
Scouting the Jaguars
Southern is coming off a win over in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana, 72-66. The Jaguars have faced stiff competition this year with losses to No. 21 Kentucky and Louisville, each by 12 points. Akron also defeated Southern by a score of 79-62.
The Jaguars are led by Tyrone Lyons, a 6-7 transfer from North Carolina A&T. Lyons leads the Jags in points (14.5ppg), blocks (14) and free throws made (42). He also ranks second on the team in rebounds (4.5) and field goal percentage (.482). Lyons gets help from Brion Whitley who averages 12.9 points per game and shotts 44 percent from three-point range.
Whitley and Southern have success on both ends of the floor beyond the arc, ranking in the top-50 of both offensive and defensive three-point percentage. The Jags also rank in the top-35 in both defensive turnover percentage (23.5) and steal percentage (12.4).
Follow the Flashes
Home tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. For questions regarding ticket information, email athletictickets@kent.edu or call 330-672-4455. The Flashes will begin Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 29, against Central Michigan as game one of a doubleheader with the women's team.
For more information on the men's basketball team, follow Kent State Men's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional updates.
