Kent State University
9-3,0-0MAC
Heidelberg
6-4,2-1OAC
Bekelja Scores Career High in Victory over Heidelberg
12/29/2024 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT – The Kent State Golden Flashes improved to 9-3 closing out conference play with an 84-80 win over Heidelberg University on Sunday afternoon. Three Flashes scored double-digits as KSU rallied late to put the game away. Mike Bekelja scored a Kent State career high in the ballgame.
Kent State and Heidelberg remained within one to two possessions of each other for the majority of the first 20 minutes. The Student Princes pushed a narrow lead up to 10 going on a 12-5 run with just over five minutes to play before halftime. Heidelberg took a lead into the break. VonCameron Davis quickly joined Jalen Sullinger in double-digits earlier in the second half as Kent State closed the gap. Mike Bekelja's third three-pointer of the game brought KSU within two points with just under 12 minutes to play. With 11:30 left, Sullinger provided Kent State with their first lead since the opening minutes of the ballgame. The Golden Flashes and Student Princes traded buckets down the stretch with key shots coming from Sulllinger, Bekelja, and Davis. Sullinger's three with 43 seconds left ended up being the dagger for the Flashes as Davis and Bekelja were able to close it out at the free throw line earning the blue and gold the four point win.
Bekelja's 14 points were a career high for the grad student from Solon, Ohio surpassing his previous of nine points. Sullinger's 25 points are a season high so far this year surpassing his previous of 16. Davis' 21 points mark his double-digit performance number 10 for the 24-25 season thus far. Cli'Ron Hornbeak also stood out grabbing 10 rebounds in his second double-digit performance of the season. Davis and Jamal Sumlin led the roster in assists each tallying five.
The Golden Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, Jan. 4 to open Mid-American Conference play against Ball State University. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. For more information on Kent State men's basketball, fans can follow the team on X, Instagram and Facebook.
