 KENT STTE 71, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 58
KSU bounced back from a 12-point first half deficit, playing better basketball on both ends of the court in the second half. The Flashes shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the second 20 minutes, going five-of-seven from three-point range and a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line while decisively winning the rebound battle, 20-10.
“Before the game, I told the players some people had to step up,” KSU head coach Geno Ford said after the game. “We got some unbelievable production from the four spot tonight in DeAndre (Nealy) and Darius (Leonard) (who) combined for almost a double-double .Then (freshman) Eric Gaines came into that spot and had 10 rebounds. That was a big key in the game.”
Absorbing its fifth loss in the last six games, Youngstown State (5-6, 0-2 Horizon) for the second consecutive game squandered a double-digit lead. In their last game at North Carolina State on Thursday, the Penguins built an 18-point lead before the Wolfpack came roaring back to pick up a 67-50 victory. Senior Vytas Sulskis led all scorers in the game with 22 points, while freshman guard Kendrick Perry added 13 points and five assists.
“They have a very good basketball team,” YSU Head Coach Jerry Slocum said afterward. “This possibly could be one of the best Kent State teams that I have seen since I have been here.”
KSU had not played since December 12 when it defeated South Florida at home 56-51 and during the week suspended two starters - junior forward Justin Manns, and junior guard Carlton Guyton - indefinitely for separate incidents.
The visitors from the Mahoning Valley took advantage of the home team’s nine-day layoff to take an early 17-5 led at the 14:54 mark on a putback jumper by Sulskis, who was sizzling in the first half (16 points on 6-of-8 from the field, 2-of-3 three-pointers).
Kent State started to get its game legs after the run and used a run of nine consecutive points to close the deficit to three (17-14) at the 11:57 mark on a layup by Greene. YSU then pushed the advantage back out to eight (22-14) at the 10:00 mark on another three pointer - this one from Perry from the right arc.
The visitors lead fluctuated between four and six points until late in the first half. With the Penguins leading 31-24 at the 3:51 mark after yet another three-pointer, this one from junior guard Devonte Maymon, Kent State used a 6-2 run to close the half, ending with a three from Leonard from the left arc with 5.1 seconds remaining to trim the Penguins lead to three at halftime 33-30.
As they started the second half, the Golden Flashes looked like a totally different basketball team. In addition to shooting the ball better KSU used its defense to stifle the YSU offense, especially on Sulskis. He scored just six points in the second 20 minutes, going just 1-for-5 from the floor.
“He is a really good player - a tough matchup for us because he plays the four spot the way he plays, and he is a guard” Ford said. “We were just trying to buy time (in the first half) that we could throw Rod and Mike (Porrini) on him in the second half.”
KSU closed the gap to one on two occasions - the last being 38-37 at the 15:36 mark on a layup by Sherman. Youngstown State then pushed the lead back out to six on three occasions. A three by Perry from the top of the key at 12:14 made it a 48-42 game.
“I thought Rod was great.” Ford said. “He was better in the second half than he was in the first half.” He had 12 second half points, with a perfect seven-of-seven from the foul line, three assists and a steal.
From that point on, it was all Blue and Gold. First came a run of eight consecutive points, fueled by a pair of threes (one each by guards Michael Porrini and Randal Holt), to take their first lead of the contest 50-48 at the 9:40 mark on a layup by Greene.
The Penguins tied the score 50-50 on two Tre Brewer free throws at the 8:44 mark, but Kent State then put the game away with a 14-3 run to open an 11-point lead 64-53 with 4:05 remaining.
“We didn’t make shots and we didn’t guard them.” Slocum said. “Just bad offense led to defense. During that stretch, we had two or three good looks and we could not convert them.”
KSU’s also had the biggest lead of the contest at 15 points 71-56 on two Greene free throws with 1:04 remaning.
Kent State’s defeated YSU for the fourth consecutive time and fifth in the last six meetings.
The Flashes return to action Tuesday, December 28, traveling to Morehead State to play the Eagles out of the Ohio Valley Conference before ending the 2010 portion of their schedule at home against James Madison out of the Colonial Athletic Association on Friday December 31.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
KEY MOMENT: 1) The three-pointer by Kent State freshman Daruis Leonard at the end of the first half to close the Youngstown State lead to 33-30 at halftime. 2) the three-pointers Michael Porrini and Randal Holt which sparked an 8-0 run that gave Kent State their first lead of the game
STAR OF THE GAME: JUSTIN GREENE-KENT STATE. The junior from Brooklyn, New York collected his second straight double-double (and fifth of the season) as he scored 21 points (15 coming in the second half) and 10 rebounds ( seven in the second half)
KEY STAT OF THE GAME: 1) Vytas Sulskis-Youngstown State scored 16 points in the first half and was held to just six in the second half. 2) Kent State shooting 54.5% from the field in the second half (going 5-of-7 from three point range). 3)KSU dominated the second half rebounding 20-10
NOTES: The game was the 44th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with Kent State holding a 27-17 advantage, winning four straight and five of the last six (last YSU win December 22,2006 at Kent 62-58)…KSU finished 1-1 against the Horizon League this season (loss at Cleveland State on November 14th 69-66) and is 61-45 in its history…KSU has not lost to a non-conference opponent at home since Wisconsin-Green Bay (87-86 OT on November 15,2009)…Justin Greene-KSU has scored double-digits in all 12 games so far this season (scoring 20 or more five times)…Eric Gaines-KSU had a career high with 10 rebounds…KSU head coach Geno Ford 3-0 lifetime against Youngstown State…Vytas Sulksis-YSU has scored in double-figures in all 11 games so far this season leading the Penguins in scoring for the fourth consecutive season…Sulkis played in his 101st consecutive game and made his 68th straight start…YSU finished 2-2 this season against the MAC (defeating Buffalo and Toledo at home, losing at Akron)…YSU head coach Jerry Slocum is 1-6 lifetime against Kent State (losing the last five).
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