Defense holds Penguins without a field for over eight minutes in the second half

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Behind a second half defensive stand, the Kent State men’s basketball team picked up a 70-61 win at Youngstown State in their first road game of the season.  The victory improves the Golden Flashes to 3-1 on the year; the Penguins fell to 1-2.

“Defensively for the whole 40 minutes we were pretty good tonight,” said Head Coach Geno Ford.  “We did not give up too many easy baskets.”

Kent State had four players in double figures for a second straight game led by 18 points from senior Tyree Evans (Richmond, Va. / Motlow C.C. [Tenn]) who shot 7-10 from the field and had four rebounds and three steals.  Sophomore Justin Greene (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) added 17 points and redshirt junior Rodriguez Sherman (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) chipped in 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.  Senior Anthony Simpson (Rockford, Ill. / Highland C.C.) led the team with six rebounds in addition to his 12 points. 

Kent State jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, but Youngstown State would mount a comeback.  An 8-1 stretch by the Penguins allowed them to take an 18-17 lead at the 8:03 mark, but the advantage would not last long.  On the Golden Flashes next trip down the court, Evans hit a three from the right corner to quickly put KSU back on top.  Sherman followed with a three of his own and put Kent State back up by five (23-18).  This cushion would remain for the Golden Flashes as they took a 30-24 lead into halftime.

Greene helped lead the offense in the second half, scoring the first four points for KSU, but both he and senior center Brandon Parks (Bunker Hill, Ind. / Maconaquah) would get in foul trouble early in the stanza as YSU staged another comeback.  The Penguins would tie the game at 36 with 14:23 remaining, setting up a back-and-forth game over the next three minutes. 

As he did in the first half, Evans answered with another big three, one of his four in the game, to set off a 13-0 run for Kent State.  With the defense holding Youngstown State without a field goal for over eight minutes, the Golden Flashes would work their way to the victory. 

“We came into the game worried all about defense, it was our main focus for the game,” said Sherman.  “Everyone was talking and getting back on ‘D’.”

Sherman would put the finishing touches on the game with a steal and breakaway dunk in the final 30 seconds.

“That was the clincher,” said Ford of the dunk. “ Rod had the explanation mark with that play.  He is in that role when we are needing someone to make a key defensive play he is the one that steps up and delivers.” 

After making just 2-6 from the foul line in the first half, Kent State helped control the game in the second hitting on 19-24, including make on their first nine attempts. 

The Golden Flashes return to the court on Sunday when they welcome Rochester (Mich.) to the M.A.C. Center as part of the final game of The Hispanic College Fund Classic.  Game time is set for 7:00 pm. 

NOTES:      Senior Chris Singletary (Chicago, Ill./Florida Prep) sat out the game due to injury.  He is expected to miss the next few games after having surgery on Friday on his meniscus ... Evans has made nine three-pointers in the last two games.