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Kent State rode Justin Greene's double-double and Michael Porrini's all-around solid play to a 79-68 victory over Ball State Friday in the MAC semifinals. The Golden Flashes (23-10) advance to their first championship appearance since winning the 2008 title. They play rival Akron at 6 p.m. tonight (Saturday).
OFFENSE RULES IN FIRST HALF
The final score is somewhat deceptive, as the margin was between four and seven points for much of the game. The two teams tied five times in the first half and Ball State had a brief lead at 30-29. When ever the Flashes would push the lead to eight or more, the Cardinals (19-13) would whittle it down. KSU held a 48-43 edge at the end of an offense-dominated, fast-paced first half.
“In the first half, I thought Ball State played at a really high level. We're one of the top defensive teams in the conference, but we couldn't get a stop,” KSU Head Coach Geno Ford said.
The Flashes shot 60% from the field with BSU just behind with 56%. But in a trend that would hold all night, KSU dominated on the glass. They pulled down nine offensive rebounds to BSU's six defensive caroms, while getting another nine defensive rebounds and holding the Cardinals to three offensive.
“Rebounding is key. That's how we were gonna win the game,” KSU forward Justin Greene said. Justin Manns, who averages 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, had eight points and four rebounds in the first half en route to a 10 point, 8 rebound night. With the BSU defense concerned with Greene, Manns was able to take advantage of openings. It did not help the Cardinals that forward Matt Kamieniecki was able to play just three minutes due to a thigh contusion.
BALL STATE CHARGES COME UP SHORT
KSU spent most of the second half holding off several Cardinal charges. In the first 10 minutes, BSU got the lead down to within four twice, only to see Porrini hit a jumper or get to the lane for a layup. Porrini scored seven points in a 4:25 span, accounting for all his team's scoring in that stretch. He finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Porrini's burst was answered by the Cardinals. Jarrod Jones hit a jumper. Randy Davis stripped Carlton Guyton and laid the ball in on the ensuing fast break to pull within 60-59 with 9:22 to play. The teams traded baskets after that.
After Jesse Berry's jumper to make the score 69-65 in favor of KSU with 2:38 left, the Cardinals could get no closer. Greene hit two free throws to push the lead to six; Jones missed a makeable shot, and the Cardinals lost their discipline.
FLASHES INSIDE GAME PROVED PIVOTAL
BSU head coach Billy Taylor said the offense played well, but the defense's inability to prevent interior scoring was the difference.
“We couldn't get the stops in the paint we wanted,” he said.
The Flashes owned the key. Fifty of their 79 points came in the paint, and they had 18 second chance points off 15 offensive rebounds, the same amount of defensive rebounds the Cardinals managed.
“Their team did a great job of crashing the glass 1-5,” Jones said. “It crushes you when they get an offensive rebound and a basket. It's almost a wasted defensive possession.”
GREEN VERSUS JONES
Greene had 12 rebounds to go with 20 points as Greene and Jones waged an entertaining battle. Jones had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
In addition to winning the battle inside, KSU also shot better from behind the arc. The Flashes connected on 40% of their three-point attempts. BSU hit three of their first four, but finished 5 of 20 for 25%. Ball State, which won the turnover battle, 16-10, turned those 16 turnovers into 14 points.
The Flashes also got contributions from several players, with five finishing in double figures. Rodriquez Sherman scored 13 and Guyton 12. For the Cardinals, Randy Davis scored 11 and Jesse Berry 14, but he struggled from the field, shooting 3-13.
KENT STATE-AKRON REMATCH
KSU now turns its attentions to Akron in a rematch of the 2008 title game, a 74-55 Kent State victory. Sherman is the lone Flash still in uniform, while Zips Steve McNees, Mike Bardo, Brett McKnight, and Darryl Roberts are all holdovers from that season. The teams split a pair of regular season games, with the latest played just eight days ago in Kent. The Flashes prevailing in that one, 79-68.
“They know us; we know them,” Ford said. “I could have Rod Sherman give the scouting report tomorrow. There's no need to coach.”
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