Kent State University
Toledo
Flashes Host Toledo in New Year's Day Showdown
12/31/2021 4:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State men's basketball team (5-6, 0-1 MAC) hosts Toledo (9-3, 1-0 MAC) on New Year's Day at 2 p.m., inside the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes will look to end a three-game losing streak on Saturday and grab their first Mid-American Conference win of the 2021-22 season. The Flashes have lost four of their last five games since starting 4-2 with a second-place finish at the Naples Invitational.
The Flashes have struggled to shoot the ball over those five games. They have only shot 37 percent from the field, just 24 percent from three and are only scoring 64.4 points per game. While the Flashes' defense has been solid - only allowing 67.6 points per game during the stretch - it hasn't been enough to overcome the offensive struggles.
Sincere Carry has been the leader for the Flashes all season and posted a season-high 22 points against CMU. He has led the Flashes in scoring in eight of the first 11 games and is eighth in the MAC in scoring (15.6ppg). Carry is second in the conference in assists (4.9apg) and fourth in the MAC in free throw percentage (.878).
Kent State has got production from different players over the past few games. Jeremiah Hernandez scored 10 points against Southern and DJ Johnson tied a career-high with nine points in the Central Michigan game, including 3-for-6 from downtown.
Scouting the Rockets
Toledo is led by two of the Mid-American Conference's best players in Ryan Rollins, who leads the MAC with 19.7 points per game, and JT Shumate, who averages 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Rollins leads the MAC with seven 20+ point performances and Shumate has recorded three double-doubles.
In Toledo's first conference game against Western Michigan, the Rockets blew the doors off the Broncos and picked up a 83-56 win. Toledo currently sits at No. 18 in the mid-major top-25 poll by collegeinsider.com and will look for their second-straight win to open MAC play.
The Rockets are just 1-3 on the road this season and Rollins has been held to just 15.5ppg in those contests on 35 percent shooting.
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. For Saturday's contest, fans can get 2 tickets for just $22 when visiting the ticket office. Fans will also be entered for the chance to win a free 4K TV.
The Flashes will hit the road for a two-game road trip, starting with Ball State on Tuesday, Jan. 4, followed by a prime time matchup on CBS Sports with Ohio on Friday, Jan. 7.
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.
