Kent State University
0-1,0-0MAC
Troy
1-0,0-0Sun Belt
Golden Flashes Fall to Troy in Overtime Thriller
11/3/2025 11:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT – The Kent State Men's Basketball team dropped their season opening MAC-Sun Belt contest to Troy University on Monday evening by a final score of 103-97. The Golden Flashes erased multiple deficits to send the game into overtime a 87 a side. Troy ultimately pulled away to earn the six-point victory.
Following a slow opening eight minutes that saw Troy take an early double-digit lead, Kent State began to come alive answering a 21-7 run with a 5-0 run of their own. Troy controlled the tempo into the closing minutes of the first half where the Flashes began to get key stops while executing on the opposite end. With just under two to play Morgan Safford capitalized with a fast break steal followed by a dunk. Rob Whaley Jr. then knocked down his first three of the season to bring Kent State back to within 10 points of Troy since the opening five minutes. The Trojans took an eight-point lead into the half. The shots started falling for the Golden Flashes in the second half. The Blue and Gold scrapped and scrapped with Troy answering with each possession. With 1:16 left play the Flashes took their first lead of the game on a go ahead three from Rob Whaley Jr. Troy's Cooper Campbell answered with a game tying layup to send the game to overtime at 87 all. Despite leading by as much as four points with 3:08 to play in overtime Troy regained and went on a 10-3 run to take the six-point win.
By The Numbers
Four Flashes tallied double digits to open the season with Delrecco Gillespie (22), Morgan Safford (21), and Rob Whaley Jr. (21) all scoring over 20. Gillespie led the way Kent State tallying his eighth career double-double very much picking up from where he left off a season ago leading KSU in boards. His cousin Whaley Jr. was second with eight. Freshman guard Quinn Woidke scored 10 points with six rebounds in his collegiate debut.
Up Next
Kent State will return to action on Friday, Nov. 7 when they host the Cornell University Big Red. Tip-off inside the MACC is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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