Kent State University
15-8,12-6MAC
Ohio University
14-7,9-5MAC
Flashes Can’t Overcome Slow Start In MAC Quarterfinals
3/11/2021 5:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Kent State men's basketball team was unable to keep pace with Ohio, falling to the Bobcats, 85-63, in a Mid-American Conference championship quarterfinal game at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon.
Senior Tervell Beck and Malique Jacobs led Kent State with a team-high 16 points. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Hernandez added nine points, while senior Justyn Hamilton led the team with six rebounds.
Despite the Flashes hitting a three-pointer by Beck to start the game, Ohio answered with a 15-1 run and led 15-4 at the 13-minute mark. Kent State was able to cut Ohio's lead to four, 18-14, with the help of capitalizing on free throws and Jacobs driving to the hoop, but the Bobcats' lead extended to the 15-point mark with under three minutes remaining in the first half and took a 37-25 lead headed into intermission.
The Flashes shot 29 percent from the field in the first half with 10 turnovers, allowing the Bobcats to score 16 points of Kent State's miscues. Ohio ended the first half shooting over 68 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite trimming Ohio's lead down to 11 in the second half, the Flashes' struggles continued as the Bobcats pushed their lead to as much as 28 points in the second half and would secure the 85-63 victory.
Kent State finished the game shooting 38.5 percent from the floor and 30 percent of shots from beyond the arc. The Flashes finished the season at 15-8 overall.
