Kent State University
Ohio
Kent State Begins 2026 MAC Tournament on Thursday Night Against Ohio
3/11/2026 9:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND – Kent State Men's Basketball (23-8, 14-4 MAC) begins play in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championship Tournament on Thursday, March 12. The third seeded Golden Flashes will tip-off against the sixth seeded Ohio Bobcats in the fourth and final game of the first round at 7:00 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of game three. All MAC Tournament games will take place inside Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes closed out their regular season with a Senior Night 86-78 victory over Western Michigan. Kent State came out firing in the opening half establishing an early lead and never trailing in the ballgame. Morgan Safford scored the first seven points for the Flashes with a jumper and a pair of free throws before drilling a three. Jahari Williamson added an early triple as Kent State jumped ahead 13-3. Quinn Woidke provided a spark off the bench with five first-half three-pointers, including three consecutive triples in a four-minute span that extended the lead. Cian Medley orchestrated the offense and contributed his own three-pointer as the Flashes built momentum. Kent State shot a scorching 58.6% from the field in the opening half, including 66.7% from beyond the arc, making 10-of-15 three-point attempts. The Golden Flashes led 46-37 at the half. The Blue and Gold maintained control throughout the second half. Woidke continued his hot shooting with two more three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half to extend his personal total to seven triples. Rob Whaley Jr. scored efficiently inside, while Safford battled for rebounds and key baskets. Western Michigan made a push down the stretch trimming the lead to three points at 71-68 with 6:19 left to play. Kent State responded as Williamson knocked down a clutch three-pointer with six minutes remaining to push the lead back to six, and Magnus Entenmann hit a momentum-swinging triple on the next possession to make it 79-70. The Flashes sealed the victory at the free-throw line to maintain their advantage winning by eight.
The Golden Flashes vs. Ohio
Kent State renews their series with another one of their oldest foes. Thursday will be the 165th meeting between the Kent State Golden Flashes and Ohio Bobcats in men's basketball. The two programs first met during the 1930-1931 season. While Ohio has a lead in the series all-time (101-63), Kent State has won nine of the last 15 meetings. The Flashes split the season series last year against OU with each squad taking their home matchup in a pair of close contests. Kent State won their most recent game 76-75 in the MACC on Feb. 14, 2025. The Blue and Gold also have a slight advantage in neutral site meetings holding a MAC Tournament record of 6-5 over Ohio. Thursday will be their 12th meeting in MAC Tournament history.
Broadcast Info
Fans can tune into the game on Fox Sports 1350 with Dane Richardson on the call. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
If the Golden Flashes defeat Ohio they will move on to the tournament semifinals against the winner of the University of Akron and the University at Buffalo. That game will take place on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.
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