Kent State University
23-9,16-4MAC
Ohio
24-9,14-6MAC
Flashes Advance to MAC Tournament Final Against Akron
3/12/2022 12:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State men's basketball team (23-9, 16-4 MAC) defeated Ohio (24-9, 14-6 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals, 67-61, to advance to the championship game against Akron.
The Golden Flashes will meet the Zips for the third time this season in a rematch of the 2017 MAC Championship game which Kent State won to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Kent State shot out to a quick 7-0 lead before Ohio fought back with an 8-0 run of its own to take the lead. This theme continued throughout the opening half as the teams traded buckets back and forth.
The Flashes used a 15-0 run capped off by a Giovanni Santiago three-pointer to take a 25-15 lead with 6:37 to play. Kent State took a 31-23 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the Flashes pushed the lead to as many as 15 points. Malique Jacobs scored 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. He finished with a team-high 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It was his second double-double in as many days and his eighth of the season.
Ohio used a 12-1 run to claw back in the game, but the Flashes led 53-49 with 5:46 to play. Sincere Carry took the game over from that point on, scoring nine of the final 14 points for the Flashes as they iced the game down the stretch. Carry finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Tervell Beck added 10 points for the Golden Flashes.
Kent State dominated the paint, outscoring the Bobcats 38-20 down low. The Flashes also outrebounded Ohio, 40-27, in the victory.
MAC Championship
The Flashes will take on No. 4 seed Akron in the championship game on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., on ESPN2. Kent State swept the season series against the Zips, including a 66-64 nail-biting win on the road.
Carry led the way for the Flashes in both matchups. The Solon, Ohio, native recorded 32 points in the first meeting and 19 points in the most recent matchup. Carry will look to lead the Golden Flashes back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Follow the Flashes
The game can be watched on ESPN2, heard on the Varsity Network and live stats are available as well.
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.
