Flashes Open 2023-24 Season with a Three-Game Home Stand
11/5/2023 7:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kent, OH - The Kent State men's basketball team gets the 2023-24 regular season started with a three-game home stand starting Monday, November 6 against Malone at the M.A.C. Center. Tip-off time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Led by thirteen-year head coach Rob Senderoff, the Golden Flashes are ranked No. 12 in the preseason Mid-Major Top 25 poll that was released on Nov. 2. The Golden Flashes have high expectations this season as they concluded their 2022-23 season 28-7 that included a MAC Tournament win and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Flashes will go into their first game of the season defending the second-longest home-game winning streak with 22 wins at home behind UCLA. The Flashes finished the 2022-23 season undefeated at home for the first time since 2008-08.
The 2023–24 roster includes ten returning players from the last Golden Flashes team including MAC Sixth Man of the Year, Jalen Sullinger, who was also nominated on the preseason All-MAC Second team. Sullinger appeared in 35 games that ended last year's season ranked fourth in scoring. Sullinger averaged 8.6 points shooting 47 percent, and ranked third in threes made while shooting 43 percent from three.
The Flashes also return Chris Payton Jr. who was nominated on the preseason All-MAC First team. The Golden Flashes forward appeared in 34 games, starting in four during the 2022-23 season. Payton averaged 6.7 points per game and recorded an impressive 73 percent from the field.
Giovanni Santiago is another piece of the Golden Flashes that is expected to help the squad make another MAC Championship appearance. The senior guard will appear after an injury that shortened his 2022-23 season. Santiago appeared in 23 games and started in all 23 during the 2022-23 season, averaging 7.8 points in games.
The Flashes will meet Malone for only the second time in program history, the Flashes leading the series 1-0. This will be the second time Malone will appear in the MAC Center.
KSU in Season Openers
• Kent State is 65-41 all-time in season openers after posting a road win over Northern Kentucky, 79-57, last season.
• Head coach Rob Senderoff is 11-1 in openers with the lone setback coming to Xavier, 79-53, on Nov. 12, 2021.
Follow the Flashes
The Kent State vs. Malone game will be available on ESPN+. Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now. Season tickets are also available and start at $85. For any questions regarding ticket information, email athletictickets@kent.edu or call 330-672-4455.
For more information on the men's basketball team, follow Kent State Men's Basketball on Twitter and Instagram, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional updates.
