 KENT STATE 67, ST. PETERS 58
The win improves the Golden Flashes to 4-0 away from home this season ,which gives the team the best start away from home in 75 years. The 1936-37 team was the last to win its first four games away from home.
Senior forward Justin Greene produced the first double-double of the season by the Golden Flashes with a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Randal Holt added 12 points and junior forward Patrick Jackson led the team with 11 rebounds, including a key put-back dunk with one minute remaining that gave Kent State a decisive four-point cushion.
In a closely contested game that featured seven lead changes in the second half alone, the Golden Flashes survived an off night shooting the ball by making clutch plays down the stretch.
Trailing 58-57 with just over two minutes remaining, senior guard Michael Porrini delivered once again, hitting a go-ahead three-pointer from the right wing.
Kent State then got the ball back after forcing one of the 18 Saint Peter’s turnovers with a shot clock violation on the other end. Porrini drove the lane, but when his lay-up was off the mark, Jackson was there with a one-handed put-back dunk to make it a 62-58 Golden Flashes lead with only one minute to play.
Porrini, who is nursing a sore right toe and was questionable at the start of the game, came up with a steal on the Peacocks ensuing possession, allowing senior guard Carlton Guyton to seal the game at the foul line with four straight free throws in the final minute.
“It certainly wasn’t one of our finest efforts of the year, but at the end when we needed to make some plays, and we have done it many times before, we had guys step up and make plays when we needed them,” said Kent State coach Rob Senderoff. “Saint Peter’s played well for a large part of the game, and we were fortunate to come away with a win.”
Returning to action for the first time since a Dec. 10 win at Western Carolina, the Golden Flashes appeared to be out of sync in the first half, falling behind by as many as 10 (22-12) at the 7:20 mark.
Kent State cut the deficit to seven on a three-point play by Holt before Porrini first entered the game at the 6:59 mark. Upon Porrini’s arrival the Golden Flashes forced a turnover . He then fed junior Chris Evans for a dunk. Porrini checked back out with 3:54 left in the half, but only after sparking a 14-3 run that gave Kent State a 26-23 lead.
“It made a huge difference when Mike (Porrini) came into the game,” said Senderoff. “His energy and toughness are key and just seeing him out there helped our guys He is an emotional leader for us and just having him out there on the court certainly gave our team a lift.”
Saint Peter’s answered with Porrini back on the bench, using an 11-5 spurt in the final four minutes to grab a 34-31 advantage at half time.
The second half remained close, with neither team leading by more than four points until the final minute.
Kent State controlled the glass for a third straight game, grabbing a season best 48 rebounds compared to 32 for Saint Peter’s. The Golden Flashes now have a +12 rebounding margin in the last three games. It was also the fourth consecutive game in which the team has held the opposition to under 60 points.
“I’m really proud and happy for Patrick (Jackson) with how he played, and he made some huge plays coming down the stretch,” said Senderoff. “Rebounding is probably what allowed us to stay in the game. We had 25 offensive rebounds and Patrick, along with Justin (Greene), were a big part of that.”
The Golden Flashes face Texas-Arlington tomorrow night at 5:30 pm (Mountain Time) and host Utah State on Thursday at 8:05 pm (Mountain Time).
Courtesy of Kent State Athletics
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