Kent State University
Eastern Michigan University
Flashes Host Eastern Michigan For Autism Awareness Game
2/19/2021 2:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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KENT, Ohio-Â The Kent State men's basketball team returns back home as the Flashes host Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon at the M.A.C. Center. Saturday's game will serve as the second annual Autism Awareness game. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
AUTISM AWARENESS GAME
To help drive awareness, the Kent State men's basketball team will be wearing its autism awareness uniforms. Designed by Kent State student Trenton Johnston for last year's inaugural autism awareness game, the space on the back of these Under Armour? uniforms that is usually designated for the names of players instead will display "1 in 54," referring to the statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that about 1 in 54 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. The prevalence of autism has increased as last year's uniforms cited the previous statistic that 1 in 59 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. The Eastern Michigan  staff will join the Golden Flashes in the awareness effort by wearing the autism puzzle pin.
Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Though tickets are not being sold to Kent State games this season and fans will not be in the stands, those who tune in to the game will be able to learn more about autism while they cheer on their Golden Flashes.
THE GAME
Kent State (13-5, 10-4) vs. Eastern Michigan (4-8, 1-7)
Saturday, Feb. 20 | M.A.C. Center| 2 PM
BROADCAST
TV: ESPN3, Dave Wilson
Radio: Dan Griffin (pbp),Sean Fitzgerald (analyst) Kent State Radio, Tune-In
EASTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH
Rob Murphy
Record at EMU: 164-151 (10th season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 194-126 (10th season)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Kent State leads the all-time series, 65-58
Kent State is 7-6 against the Eagles under head coach Rob Senderoff.
Last season, the Flashes fell in Ypsilanti, 70-49. Kent State and EMU saw each other again in the opening round of the MAC Tournament with the Flashes coming away with an 86-76 victory at home.
LAST TIME OUT
The Kent State men's basketball team improved to 13-5 overall and 10-4 in MAC play after taking down WMU, 76-69. Sophomore Giovanni Santiago scored a career-high 22 points. Santiago's 22 points came off of 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Santigo also grabbed four rebounds and had an assist. The Flashes forced 11 turnovers in the second half and were able to score 18 points off the Bronco's miscues. The Flashes were solid from the charity stripe in the game making 27-of-29 free throws. For the game, the Flashes shot 40 percent from the floor and 27.8 percent from long range.Â
 On the season, the Flashes are shooting 45.0 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, Kent State has held its opponents to 70.9 points per game on 41.2 percent shooting from the floor and 33.6 percent from long range.
FLASH FACTS
- The Flashes have three players averaging in double figures in Nuga (17.8), Pippen (20.3), and Beck (10.5)
- In Pippen's his last eight games, Pippen has notched a double-double in four giving him seven on the season., ranking 26th in the nation and first in MAC stats
- Pippen ranks 25th in the country and 3rd in the league in points per game (20.0)
- As a team, Kent State is 2nd in the league in FG percentage defense (41.2)
-The Flashes are the 36th-ranked team in the country in rebound margin (6.0) and lead MAC stats
-KSU ranks 33rd in the country and 4th the MAC in scoring offense (79.7)
- The Flashes are 2nd in conference stats in scoring defense (70.9)
-As a team, KSU ranks 5th in conference in forced turnovers (13.22)
-Flashes rank 18th in the country in total rebounds per game (40.17) and rank 2nd in league stats.
-KSU ranks 19th in the nation and 2nd in league in offensive rebounds per game (13.06)
-Senior Justyn Hamilton ranks 57h in the country in offensive rebounds per game (2.76) and leads the conference. He also ranks 5th in league in rebounds per game (6.8)
-Pippen ranks 25th in the nation and 3rd in the league in rebounds per game (8.9)
-Malique Jacobs ranks 30th in the nation and is 4th conference stats in steals per game (1.89)
-Pippen leads the league with (1.35) total blocked shots per game and total blocks (23).
- Kent State's Danny Pippen, Justyn Hamilton and Tervell Beck have combined to account for 45 percent of the team's scoring this season, including 50 percent of all Golden Flashes points over the last five games.
-Kent State has an assist on 44 of 75Â field goals (58.6 percent) over its previous three games
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles, stand (4-8, 1-7 MAC) under the direction of 10th-year head coach Rob Murphy. EMU is coming off a 25-day layoff and is on a five-game slip after falling to Akron, 86-65 (Jan.26). EMU leads the league in steals per game (9.2) and turnovers forced (16.7).
EMU has three players scoring in double figures in Groce (14.2), McBride (14.0), and Montero (12.8). Montero leads the team averaging 6.4 rebounds.
As a team the Eagles are averaging 71.7 points per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the field and 28.2 percent from long range.Â
Defensively, EMU has held its opponents to score 75.8 per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the field and 36.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Eagles have 161 turnovers (13.4 tpg) while collecting 111 steals (9.3 stl/g) On the glass, the Eagles have been out rebounded by their opponents 447-419 for a -2.3 rebounding margin.
WAYS TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN3
Listen: https://kentstatesports.com/watch/?Live=324&type=Live
Live Stats: https://kentstatesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
