Kent State University
Cornell
Golden Flashes to Host Cornell on Friday Night
11/6/2025 11:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENT – Kent State Men's Basketball is in preparation for their second game of the 2025-2026 season on Friday, Nov. 7 at home in the M.A.C. Center at 7 p.m. against the Cornell University Big Red. This will be just the second meeting all-time between the Kent State and Cornell programs.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes will look to bounce back following their season opening loss on Nov. 3 against Troy. 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.
The Golden Flashes vs. Cornell
This will be just the second meeting between the Golden Flashes and the Big Red. Kent State holds an overall record of 1-0 over Cornell going into their meeting on Nov. 7, 2025. Kent State and Cornell previously met on Dec. 8, 11973, in the Missouri Classic in Columbia as part of a non-conference neutral site event 52 years ago where the Blue and Gold took the one-sided victory 85-49.
Scouting the Big Red
Cornell is set to begin year two of the Jon Jaqes era as the 2010 Cornell alumnus enters season 13 as an Assistant, Associate Head Coach, or Head Coach of the program. Jaques was a senior captain on Cornell's 2010 Sweet 16 team. Since the return in 2021 from the Covid-19 pandemic, Cornell has gone 72-41 as a program. The Big Red posted a record of 18-11 overall in 2024-2025, and a 9-5 second place finish in the Ivy League regular season. Cornell fell in the Ivy League Tournament Championship game to Yale by a final score of 90-84.
Broadcast Info
Friday night's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jackson Lawrence and Jana Ashley on the call. This season's radio broadcast can be heard on Fox Sports 1350 with Dane Richardson on the call. Friday's game will have Rob Polinsky on the radio broadcast filling in for Richardson.
Up Next
Following Friday's matchup with Cornell, the Golden Flashes will be back in action on Monday Nov. 10 against the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and is the second of a double-header following Kent State Women's Basketball's game against Walsh University.
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