Kent State University
9-5, 1-0MAC
Ball State
9-5, 0-1MAC
Men's Basketball Beats Ball State, 100-90, In Record Setting Night
1/3/2017 11:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State University men's basketball team (9-5, 1-0 MAC) had a record setting night in picking up its Mid-American Conference opening game, defeating the Ball State Cardinals (9-5, 0-1 MAC), 100-90, Tuesday at home.
The Golden Flashes were a perfect 31-for-31 from the free throw line, setting a new MAC record for most free throws made in a perfect night. The previous record for the conference was 25, and the previous program record was 13. The Flashes were three short of the NCAA record.
"We've been a good free throw shooting team all year," said head coach Rob Senderoff. "Tonight was very exceptional, and was a once in a lifetime sort of thing. 31-for-31 is the MAC record, so that's not going to happen every night."
Jimmy Hall scored 20 points against the Cardinals, and led the Golden Flashes with nine rebounds and five assists without a turnover. Jaylin Walker was the team's leading scorer at 21 points, finishing 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Kevin Zabo had his best game for Kent State, finishing with 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting with four rebounds.
The Flashes put on a show for the fans in the M.A.C. Center in one of the most up tempo games played by Kent State this century. Ball State threw the first punch, nailing a 3-pointer for the game's first bucket. The Flashes rattled off seven straight points, establishing a lead they would hold for over 34 minutes Tuesday.
However, Kent State would lead by single digits for most of the first half. Up nine points, Ball State went on a 19-10 run to tie the game at 37-37. A Jaylin Walker 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in the half put the Flashes up, 49-46 at the break.
Ball State came out strong in the second half, outscoring the home team 13-9 to take a one-point lead with 13:27 remaining. From there, the Flashes worked the ball into Hall, as four straight free throws from the senior started a 16-2 run. The run gave Kent State its largest lead of the game at 74-61. Ball State would cut its deficit to seven points on multiple occasions, but never came within a pair of field goals. Kent State scored six points at the free throw line in the final minute to seal a 10-point win.
The Flashes reached the century mark for the third time this season, one short of the program record set in 1965-66. It was Kent State's first 100-point game in MAC play since scoring 116 points on Marshall on Feb. 19, 2002.
Overall, Kent State shot 41.7 percent (30-for-72) from the floor and 9-for-19 from 3-point range, to go along with its perfect free throw shooting night. Ball State shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the floor. Kent State won the rebounding battle, 38-30, with 17 offensive rebounds. Kent State had the lower turnover margin, 13-16.
Five players scored in double figures for Kent State, including a 14-point effort from Deon Edwin. The senior also recorded six rebounds and two steals. Desmond Ridenour had another solid game, scoring 13 points, eight from the foul line. Adonis De La Rosa finished with seven points and eight rebounds. He took his team-best 15th charge.
Kent State will carry back-to-back wins into its next game at Ohio Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
