 KENT STATE 72, TOLEDO 55 Kent State (14-7, 5-2 MAC) collected its third consecutive win, and fifth in the last six games, to stay tied with Buffalo and Bowling Green atop the MAC East. In addition, the Flashes won their 19th consecutive game against Western Division opposition.
“We have put ourselves in a position where we will be in the chase for a championship up until the last week of the season.” KSU head coach Geno Ford said after the game. “That is all we have accomplished right now.”
Greene picked up his seventh double-double of the season, leading all scorers in the contest. The junior forward has scored in double digits in 19 of KSU’s 21 games so far this season. Junior guards Michael Porrini and Carlton Guyton each added 10 points.
“For us to win a championship, he (Greene) has to play at an elite level.” Ford said. “I thought he played really well. He was back to what makes him really good. He was demanding the ball.”
Toledo (4-17, 1-6 MAC) dropped their third consecutive game and eighth in the last nine while extending its losing streak on the road to 42 consecutive games.
“I thought (junior forward Justin) Manns was the difference.” Rockets head coach Tod Kowalczyk said afterwards. “He blocked several of our shots and made us play timid early in the game.”
Freshman guard Reese Holliday led UT with 12 points, while fellow freshman forward Delino Dear added 10 and nine rebounds.
The Rockets leading scorer, sophomore guard Malcolm Griffin, was in foul trouble for the majority of the game finished with eight points to his credit. He picked up two quick fouls in the second half, leaving the game just 2:07 into the second period and fouled out with 7:33 remaining in the contest.
When asked about Griffin’s foul trouble, Kowalczyk said “It certainly hurt us. He is our best offensive player, and we struggle offensively when he’s not out there. In addition, he is our only true point guard right now.”
The tone for the game was set in the first minute when Manns blocked a Holliday shot as he was coming in for a layup. It was the first of four blocked shots for the junior forward. The Flashes then took the ball down the court and Greene connected on a short baseline jumper.
The Flashes scored the game’s first seven points, and would not trail the rest of the way.
After extending the lead to 10-2 on a three-pointer from the top of the key by sophomore guard Randal Holt, UT got a three-pointer from the top of the circle from reserve guard Anthony Wright and a left wing jumper by freshman guard Zach Leahy, closing the margin to 10-7 at the 16:29 mark. That was as close as UT could get for the rest of the game.
Kent State’s largest lead in the first half was 15 on two occasions, the last being their halftime margin, 39-24, on two Porrini free throws. KSU built its lead by shooting 50 percent from the field (12-for-24), holding UT to just 38.5% shooting from the field (10-for-26), turning the ball over just six times and earning a 19-14 rebounding edge.
“Our defense in the first half was not what it has been lately.” Kowalczyk said. “We gave up too many touches in the low-post, and we let (sophomore guard Randal) Holt get going early.” Holt scored only seven points in the game, but hit two three-pointers early in the game.
In the second half, KSU’s lead did not fall below double digits. The Flashes largest lead of the contest was 25 points, 54-29, at the 13:02 mark when Guyton took the ball the length of the floor and scored on a layup.
To the Rockets credit, they kept chipping away at the margin, closing to within 13 points on two occasions the last being 68-55 when Wright connected on a three-pointer from the right arc with1:25 remaining . In the end, it was all Kent State as the Flashes improved to 9-1 at home so far this season, defeating UT for the fourth consecutive time and sixth in the last seven meetings.
“I thought we had six guys in the second half that went out and competed.” Kowalczyk said. “They played with an edge, and showed they care about the future of this program.”
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday night, KSU heads to Kalamazoo to take on Western Michigan, while Toledo heads to Buffalo to battle the Bulls.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
KEY MOMENT: On the first possession of the game, Toledo’s Reese Holliday was going in for a layup, Kent State’s Justin Mann’s blocked the shot. The Golden Flashes took the ball down the court and Justin Greene scored.
STAR OF THE GAME: JUSTIN GREENE-KENT STATE. The junior from Brooklyn, New York collected his sixth straight double-double of the season (first in MAC play in 2010-11) as he led all scorers with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
KEY STAT OF THE GAME: 1) Kent State had seven blocked shots in the contest (four from Justin Manns). 2) Kent State going to the free throw line 34 times to just eight for Toledo.
NOTES: The game was the 122nd lifetime meeting, with Toledo holding a 78-44 edge. Kent State has won the last four meetings and six of the last seven….69th lifetime game in Kent (31-28 Toledo) KSU has won the last six at home…Randal Holt’s first three pointer gave KSU at least one from beyond the arc in 382 consecutive games…Kent State has had 15 total blocked shots the last two games coming off a school record eight in the win at Ball State on Wednesday night…The win was Kent State’s 499th lifetime at the MAC Center …Carlton Guyton-KSU has scored in double figures in two of his last three games…Malcolm Griffin-UT had a sting of four consecutive games of scoring at least 22 points end by scoring just eight before fouling out…Reese Holliday-UT scored in double digits for the 12th time this season..KSU head coach Geno Ford is 3-0 lifetime against Toledo (1-1 against Tod Kowalczyk)…Both coaches were wearing sneakers and casual wear to demonstrate their support of the ‘Coaches vs. Cancer’ charity
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