Kent State University
17-6,8-3MAC
Toledo
12-11,6-5MAC
Golden Flashes Erase 17-Point Deficit to Complete Comeback Win Over Toledo
2/3/2026 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TOLEDO, Ohio– Kent State Men's Basketball (17-6, 8-3 MAC) swept the season series against the University of Toledo Rackets on Tuesday night winning by a final score of 75-72. The Golden Flashes trailed UT by as much as 17 in the second half before storming back to ground the Rockets for the second time in three weeks.
Kent State and Toledo seesawed back and forth in the opening half with the Rockets keeping their noses just in front. Both squads were shooting in the mid-40% over the first 15 minutes of play. Delrecco Gillespie led the charge for Kent State as the Flashes found success in crashing the glass. He had 13 of Kent State's first 29 points as the Rockets led at the break 36-29. While the threes began to fall for the Flashes at the start of the second half, so to were they for Toledo's Sonny Wilson. The Golden Flashes kept pace as Toledo went on a 23-17 run over the next 10 minutes. Kent State followed up with a 5-0 run to close the game to a 12-point deficit just under the eight-minute media timeout. Kent State turned it into 12-3 run bringing the deficit to single digits on a big three from Rayvon Griffith and a throw down by from Gillespie. Morgan Safford drained a three with 3:56 to play making it a five-point ballgame. Cian Medley tallied a layup that Safford followed up with an and one on the opposite end hitting the free throw to tie the game with 1:45 to play at 69-69. With under a minute to play Medley hit a second chance three-pointer with 44 second left to take a 72-69 lead. Quinn Woidke extended the lead for KSU while Leroy Blyden Jr. missed one of two for UT. Safford added a pair of free throws before Gillespie blocked a would-be three from Wilson completing the Kent State comeback and Toledo collapse.
The Box Score Story
With the sweep Kent State has extended their winning streak to five over Toledo. Kent State earned two straight wins in Savage Arena for the first time since the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 seasons. Gillespie has tallied 19 double-doubles (25 points, 1o rebounds) in 23 games continuing to lead the nation. Griffith tallied his second double-digit performance in the KSU uniform with 11. Safford heated up down the stretch dropping 13 for double-digit game number 15 on the season.
Up Next
Kent State will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 7 when they travel to take on the University of Southern Mississippi for their second game of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET in Hattiesburg.
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