Kent State University
Central Michigan
Flashes Jump Start Two-Game Road Trip at CMU
2/25/2022 5:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State men's basketball team (18-9, 13-4 MAC) will look to stay hot as they travel to Central Michigan (7-19, 6-9 MAC) in search of their 10th-consecutive victory on Saturday at 7 p.m., inside McGuirk Arena.
The Golden Flashes made their debut at No. 15 in collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major Poll on Monday evening and promptly showed why on Tuesday night against Ball State. The historic night at the MAC Center was headlined by Sincere Carrydropping 42 points and a school-record 10 three-pointers, while Malique Jacobs recorded the first triple-double in program history with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. The electrifying duo became just the third pair of teammates in the last 25 years to go for 40+ points and a triple-double in the same game.Â
Carry and the Flashes currently boast the sixth-longest winning streak in the nation and led off Sportscenter on Tuesday night. The nine-game winning streak is the longest at Kent State since the 2003-04 season. After earning the Mid-American Conference co-Player of the Week, Carry's 42 points are the fourth-most in school history and the most points scored in nearly 70 years. They are the most points by any MAC player this season.
Jacobs' performance on Tuesday night was truly legendary. His 10th assist with just over a minute to play on a dish to Tervell Beck inked his name in the record book. He helped the team to 23 assists, the most against a D-1 opponent this season. The Flashes also recorded a D-1 opponent high 93 points in the victory.Â
The Golden Flashes' defense has been the story all season and continued against Ball State, causing 21 turnovers and posting a season-high 16 steals. Giovanni Santiago led the charge with six steals. The Flashes are in the top-three in the MAC in scoring defense, defensive field goal percentage, defensive three-point field goal percentage, blocks, steals and turnovers forced.
Scouting the Chippewas
The Chippewas have won six of their seven games this season in MAC play and are coming off a huge road win at Miami which vaulted CMU firmly into eighth place in the conference with less than two weeks before the MAC tournament. The Chips are led by Kevin Miller who leads the team in points (13.1) and is third in the MAC in assists per game (4.8).
CMU spreads the ball around with multiple players averaging double figures, including Ralph Bissainthe. Bissainthe is one of the most important pieces to the Chips success as he is fourth on the team in points per game (10.1) and leads the team in rebounds, blocks and steals.
Follow the Flashes
Home tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Fans are required to wear face coverings while inside the M.A.C. Center. For questions regarding ticket information, email athletictickets@kent.edu or call 330-672-4455.
Following the two-game road trip against CMU and NIU, the Flashes return home for Senior Night on Friday, March 4, at 6 p.m., in the MAC Center as the team will honor Justyn Hamilton, Andrew Garcia and Tervell Beck. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.Â
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.
