Kent State University
0-1,0-0MAC
Louisiana Tech
1-0,0-0Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent St. | 32 | 43 | 75 |
| Louisiana Tech | 41 | 44 | 85 |
11/2/2026 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. – The Kent State Men's Basketball team opened the 2026-27 season on the road Monday night, falling to Louisiana Tech 85-75 inside the Thomas Assembly Center. Kent State trailed from the opening possession but kept scrapping down the stretch, cutting a 19-point second-half deficit to 10 in the closing minutes. Four Golden Flashes scored in double figures, led by Christian Henry's 17 points off the bench.
Louisiana Tech jumped out to an 8-0 lead and pushed the margin to 13 at 37-24 with 4:35 to play in the first half. The Flashes answered late. Dhani Miller scored five points in a 90-second span with a pair of free throws and a layup off a steal, and Jamal Sumlin followed with a jump shot to make it 39-30. Latif Diouf's layup in the final minute made it 41-32 at the break.
Kent State opened the second half with a 9-0 stretch to get within four, 43-39, at the 18:18 mark. Diouf scored inside off an offensive rebound, and Quinn Woidke added a fast-break three to help fuel the run. The Bulldogs responded with a 10-0 run and extended the lead to as many as 19 at 6:44 on a tip-in by Deven Bates. Henry hit a three with 5:24 to go, then added another at the 4:00 mark and a late tip-in to keep the Flashes within striking distance. Jaymen Townsend capped the scoring with a jumper with four seconds left.
The Box Score Story
Henry led the way with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. Miller finished with 15 points and five assists in his college career debut. Diouf added 13 points and a game-high-tying 10 rebounds tallying a double-double in his first game as a Golden Flash. Sumlin tallied 10 points to give Kent State four players total in double figures. The Flashes outrebounded the Bulldogs 45-40 and grabbed 23 offensive boards, turning them into 25 second-chance points to Louisiana Tech's five. Kent State's bench outscored Louisiana Tech's 38-20.
Up Next
Kent State will hold its home opener on Friday, Nov. 6 inside the M.A.C. Center against Roberts Wesleyan University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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