 KENT STATE 92, BOWLING GREEN 87 Senior forward Justin Greene scored his season high, totaling 23 points for the second straight game as four Kent State players registered at least 14 points in the highest scoring MAC game of the season. The 92 points by the Golden Flashes are also the most by the team against a MAC opponent since the 2006 season in a 111-107 overtime win at Buffalo (Feb. 15, 2006)
The high-scoring outburst by Kent State seemed almost unimaginable in the early going as the team shot only 2-of-10 form the field and trailed 15-7 just five minutes into the game. The Golden Flashes would awaken from there however as they quickly caught fire, making eight of their next 11 shots to spark a 17-2 run over the next six minutes. The six-minute spurt was all part of Kent State’s highest scoring first half of the year as the team went into intermission up 45-27.
“In my eyes it was the defense, our intensity and rebounding was what got us going,” Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff said. “They started the game 6-of-9 from the field and at halftime they were 12-of-29. When we rebound and we guard, our offense looks pretty good and it helps get us going.”
The Falcons did not go away easily in the second half however. After a back-and-forth first seven minutes following the break, Kent State’s lead increased to as many as 19 points on a jumper by freshman Devareaux Manley with 12:34 left to play.
Bowling Green, however, needed only three and a half minutes to slice the margin all the way down to six (61-55) on a lay-up by Craig Sealey with 8:56 left. The Falcons comeback and 60-point second half explosion was aided by the three-ball where they managed to make 9-of-17 (52.9%) after the break.
The two teams traded baskets over the next seven minutes or so until Kent State pulled away at the free throw line. Senior guard Michael Porrini eventually pushed the margin back to 11 with a pair of charity tosses at 1:19. Bowling Green kept chipping away and closed to within four in the final 10 seconds before one more free throw by senior guard Carlton Guyton sealed the win.
“Our team is built on defense, but you wouldn’t know that from tonight,” Senderoff said. “We’re going to have to get back to that grind mentality, especially in these next two games on the road. You can get away with trading baskets at home, but you can’t get away with it on the road and expect to win.”
Porrini finished with a season-best 19 points while adding six rebounds. Junior guard Randal Holt added 17 points and junior forward Chris Evans totaled 14, including four dunks that brought the M.A.C. Center crowd to their feet. Guyton, the 2010-11 MAC Sixth Man of the Year, dished out 10 assists.
“It was a bit of a struggle for me, but most importantly, we were winning,” Evans said of his play in recent games. “Tonight I was able to get it going. My teammates were able to find me in open spots and set me up and I was able to finish a couple easy baskets at the rim.”
Bowling Green was led by forward Scott Thomas who paced the Falcons with 23 points
Kent State returns to action Wednesday as the Flashes travel to Athens to take on Ohio. Bowling Green is also on the road Wednesday as it visits Oxford to take on Miami.
Courtesy of Kent State Athletics
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