 AKRON 65, KENT STATE 62
“Making the small plays is what matters to me.” Marshall said after the game. “I care about getting the win. It is satisfying (getting the double-double), but the win was the key. I still have a lot to work on so I can be a dominant big man.”
Akron (10-5, 1-0 MAC) ended a three-game losing streak to their arch-rival, posting their third straight win and sixth in the last seven games while winning their MAC opener for the third time in the last four years.
TYPICAL 'RIVAL' GAME
“It was a typical Akron-Kent game.” Zips head coach Keith Dambrot said. “I’m just glad we won. We have had some tough games against them the last little while. We had chances to win, but could not get it done.”
Senior Brett McKnight added 19 points off the bench as he continues his solid play since being reinstated from an unspecified athletic department suspension just before Christmas.
“For me playing my final home game against Kent State, this win means a lot.” McKnight said. “It feels real good to get this win and to start the MAC schedule off well.”
Kent State (9-6, 0-1 MAC) lost its third consecutive game – the Flashes longest losing streak since January, 2009. KSU also lost its MAC opener for the second time in the last three seasons.
“It’s the first time in three games that we showed signs of life.” KSU head coach Geno Ford said afterwards. “I like our collective fight for the first time in a long time.”
On December 28, they traveled to Morehead State and were totally dominiated by the Eagles 76-59. A Dec. 31 loss to James Madison (60-51) marked an end to the Flashes 15-game home winning streak.
Senior guard Rodriguez Sherman led four KSU players in double figures with 19 points and six rebounds, along with three steals.
GOOD LOOKS THAT DIDN'T PAY OFF
“We couldn’t make shots when we needed to make them.” Sherman said. “Everyone had good looks (at the basket) it just didn’t go in. We really wanted to win this game, it’s a rivalry game.”
With UA trailing 58-53 with 4:01 remaining, Marshall scored the next eight points in a span of 2:58 to give the Zips a lead they would not relinquish at 61-58.
KSU made it close in the final moments as Darius Leonard banked a long three-pointer from the left arc off the glass to close the deficit to 63-62 with 14:8 seconds remaining. “That was a great shot by Darius, a clutch shot at that.” Sherman said
After two Darryl Roberts three throws extended the Zips lead to 65-62 at the 11.2 mark, the Flashes came down with a chance to tie, but Michael Porrini’s three-point try from the left corner bounced off the rim, the ball bounced into the corner as time expired.
“I thought the ball went in.” Sherman said. “I had faith in him (Porrini). That is why I passed the ball to him. He just couldn’t make the shot. I wanted to win.”
“Down the stretch we got the ball inside on four straight possessions and we just could not finish.” Ford said. “When we are good we are able to finish around the basket.”
FINDING A WAY
“We continue to fight and find a way to win the game.” McKnight said. “That is one of the best qualities we have on this team.”
Both teams were tight at the start, shooting a combined 1-for-11 from the field and turning the ball over eight times with neither team opening as much as a three point lead.
KSU then used a 15-5 spurt to open their largest lead of the half, 21-15, at the 7:38 mark on a three-pointer from the left arc by Sherman.
Sherman was Kent State’s main offensive weapon in the first 20 minutes, scoring 13 points as he was a perfect four-for-four from the field, three of his field goals coming from beyond the arc.
UA countered with nine unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead at the 5:13 mark on two McKnight free throws. Three free throws by Porrini, and a three-pointer from the right arc by Sherman helped the Flashes regain the lead 27-26 at the 1:56 mark. But it was the Zips that would hold the lead at halftime, 30-27, on two McKnight foul shots and a slam by Marshall.
“McKnight killed us tonight.” Ford said. “He poses so many problems for us. He created a lot of offense for them. They (UA) are a much better team with him in the lineup.”
The Zips came out flat at the start of the second half, and KSU took advantage of it, scoring the first six points as part of an 8-2 run that gave them a 35-32 lead with 16:13 remaining on two Porrini free throws.
Kent State held that lead for the majority of the second half, outscoring the Zips 18-6 to open the largest KSU lead of the game, 45-36, with 12:37 remaining on a driving layup by Sherman.
“The first four minutes of the second half, we did not guard very well.” Dambrot said.
Akron chipped away at the deficit, using a 12-4 run to pull within a single point, 49-48, at the 7:37 mark on a three-pointer from the right arc by senior guard Steve McNees.
After a Justin Greene conventional three-point play pushed the Flashes lead back out to four, UA scored the next five points to take their first second half lead, 53-52, at the 5:39 mark when junior guard Brett McClanahan took it strong to the basket and converted a layup.
Three free throws by the Flashes - two by Randal Holt, and one by Justin Manns - helped Kent State regain the lead 55-53 before Marshall went on a personal 8-0 run that swung the balance of the game in UA’s favor.
THE GREENE FACTOR
One key to the final outcome was Greene. The junior is one of the premier power-forwards in the MAC and came into the game leading KSU in scoring (16.6 ppg.) and rebounding (7.9 rpg.).
In the first half, he was held to just two points on just 1-for-6 shooting from the floor and had three turnovers as the Zips used a stifling double team. He finished the game with 10 points (going just 4-for-15) with five rebounds.
“I thought we did a good job on Greene. We started with Nikola (Cvetinovic) on him and then Zeke did a good job defensively.” Dambrot said.
For Marshall, he has added some bulk to his frame and has shown this season he can score as well as be a shot blocker. He collected his second double-double of the season against the Flashes.
The 20 points were just two points off his career high set earlier this season in an overtime win over Youngstown State (22), and were a career-best against MAC opposition. His previous high mark was 13 against Miami on January 20,2009 and against Eastern Michigan in the quarterfinals of the 2010 FirstEnergy MAC Tournament.
Both teams have quick turnarounds as KSU returns home Tuesday night to face Bowling Green, while UA completes a four-game homestand Wednesday night against the defending MAC Tournament champion Ohio Bobcats
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
KEY MOMENT: Zeke Marshall took the game into his hands scoring eight consecutive points to turn a two-point Akron deficit into a six-point lead 61-55 with 1:09 remaining in regulation.
STAR OF THE GAME: ZEKE MARSHALL-AKRON. The sophomore center from McKeesport, PA led all scorers with 20 points and had 11 rebounds (his second double-double of the season and third of his career) along with two assists, a steal, and three blocked shots
KEY STATS OF THE GAME: 1) Akron converted eight turnovers in the first half and just two in the second. 2) Kent State Justin Greene held to just two points in the first half. 3) After trailing in rebounding for much of the game, Akron won the battle of the boards, 41-38.
NOTES: The game was the first time since Akron joined the MAC that it opened its conference schedule with KSU…The game was the 130th lifetime meeting between the two schools, with Kent State holding a 68-62 advantage and 67th meeting in Akron with UA holding a 36-21 edge…Akron improves to 12-7 in MAC openers, winning its last three conference openers at home…UA head coach Keith Dambrot collected his 257th career win 150th at Akron…Dambrot is 6-13 lifetime against Kent State and 2-3 against head coach Geno Ford…Brett McClanahan-AKR was held to five points, ending his streak of six consecutive games in double figures…Justin Greene-KSU has scored in double figures 14 of the 15 games so far this season.
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