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KENT, Ohio – For the second time this season Kent State (9-5) had five players reach double figures as the Golden Flashes posted a 84-66 win over Norfolk State (1-11) in their final contest before beginning Mid-American Conference on Saturday.
Named the MAC East player of the week earlier in the day, sophomore Justin Greene lived up to his billing with 14 points, a career high 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to record his second double-double in the last three games.
Redshirt junior Rodriquez Sherman led the team with 16 points and added six rebounds as he reached double figures for the third straight game.
Down 15-4 in the first five minutes of the game, Kent State used a 16-4 run highlighted by five points from freshman guard Randal Holt to take its first lead (20-19) of the game at the nine-minute mark.
The lead would change hands six more times in the next four minutes before a 13-4 run that included another three-pointer from Holt, who was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and totaled a career best 12 points, ended the half and put the Golden Flashes up 39-31 at the break.
“You have to give them credit, they came out and played with a lot of energy and we were a little flat at the beginning,” said Head Coach Geno Ford. “Tonight was the best Randal has played, and he was almost single-handedly responsible for our turn-around from the bad start.”
Greene scored six points in the first three minutes in the second half to help Kent State extend the lead to as many as 16. Norfolk State would close the gap to eight (55-47) at the 11 minute mark before Tyree Evans answered with one of his four three-pointers. Evans totaled 14 pointsin the game.
The margin was back down to seven (60-53) three minutes later, but Anthony Simpson followed for Kent State with an inside basket on the other end to thwart any comeback attempt by the Spartans.
Simpson, who also grabbed seven rebounds, rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points. Setting up the offensive balance was senior Chris Singletary, who produced a team high seven assists. Singletary has now led the Golden Flashes in assists in five of the last six games.
Kent State shot 44.4 percent as a team, including a 56.0 percent showing in the second half. Norfolk State was held to 38.8 percent shooting. The Spartans were led by Christian Morris with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Kent State begins Mid-American Conference play on Saturday at Ohio.
NOTES
-The Kent State bench produced a season high 36 points The bench has out-scored seven of the last eight and 11 of its 14 opponents this season
- Greene shot 6-6 from the foul line and is now 38-42 (90.5 percent) over the last five games
- Greene’s double-double is the fifth by KSU this season matching the team’s output from all of last year
- Kent State improved to 5-1 at home this season and is now 18-4 all-time at home under Geno Ford
- It was the third time this season Kent State has scored over 80 points (all three have come at home)
Randal Holt’s 12 points are a career high and now make-up 33 percent of his total points (36) this season.
Courtesy: Kent State Athletics
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