Kent State University
12-3,3-0MAC
Bowling Green
11-5,2-2MAC
Coach Senderoff Tallies 300th Career Win as Kent State Defeats Bowling Green 96-93
1/6/2026 11:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT – Kent State Men's Basketball (12-3) moved to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday night defeating the Bowling Green Falcons by a final score of 96-93. With the victory, Kent State Head Coach Rob Senderoff tallied his 300th at the helm of the Golden Flashes men's basketball program. Five Flashes scored double-digits, and a pair of Flashes tallied double-doubles in a fast paced 40-minute thriller.
The game was close from the jump with the teams trading the lead in the opening five minutes the game was fast and high scoring with Kent State leading 20-18 with just over 12 minutes left in the first. Following a 22-22 tie Kent State regained the lead with a Morgan Safford three and Rob Whaley Jr. layup. Bowling Green responded with a fast pace 6-2 run over the next three and half minutes to take a lead of their own. Both squads continued to push the pace into the break with Delrecco Gillespie and Safford combining buckets to tie the game for Kent State at 45. The Golden Flashes opened the second half on a 14 to 9 run to push the lead back to as high as nine points. Neither team refused to go away with BGSU taking the lead back 68-66 at the 9:51 mark, and Kent State responding back to a 72-72 tie. Neither team backed down over the final five minutes. Kent State trailed 93-90 with 1:28 when Gillespie scored six unanswered points to snatch the lead and the win in the closing seconds.
The Box Score Story
As of this win Coach Senderoff has an overall record of 300 wins and 179 losses as Kent State's Head Men's Basketball Coach. He remains the winningest coach in the history of the KSU program. Gillespie notched double-double number 13 in 15 games which continues to lead the nation (32 points, 10 boards). His 32 points mark a new career high for the senior forward. Cian Medley scored 11 points while dishing out 10 assists for his third career double-double and his second of the 2025-2026 season. Safford went 7-13 including a roster leading five threes to score 22 points for KSU. It was his 10th double-digit game of the season. Not to be outdone, Rob Whaley Jr. and Jahari Williamson each tallied 11 points for their eighth and seventh double-digit performances respectively.
Up Next
The Golden Flashes will be back in action weekend on the road against the Central Michigan University Chippewas. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.
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