Kent State University
12-5, 3-1MAC
Ohio University
5-10, 0-4MAC
Four Flashes score in double figures in 69-59 win over Ohio
1/17/2015 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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KENT, Ohio – Derek Jackson led four Golden Flashes in double figures as Kent State cruised to a 69-59 victory over Ohio University on Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.
Jackson scored 18 points, Kris Brewer added 14 points and Jimmy Hall and Chris Ortiz finished with 12 and 10, respectively, to lead a team effort that included eight rebounds and four blocked shots from Khaliq Spicer.
"Everyone who stepped on the floor contributed to the win," said Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff. "Our defense was terrific for the first 35 minutes. This is a really good offensive team and they only had 40 points with five minutes to play"
It took Ohio University almost six full minutes to hit the scoreboard before Treg Setty hit a three-pointer with 14:03 to play in the first half, ending an 0-for-6, four-turnover start for the Bobcats. They never found their shooting stroke, finishing the night at 34-percent from the field (18-for-53).
The Flashes (12-5, 3-1 MAC) led 30-19 at halftime and built a lead that stretched as high as 21 points by the five-minute mark of the second half.
Two three-pointers by Ortiz and threes by Jackson and Brewer helped the Flashes take control midway through the second half, and three consecutive free throws by Jackson with five minutes to play gave the Flashes their biggest lead of the night at 61-40.
Ohio (5-10, 0-4 MAC) made the score respectable late with a 19-8 run in the closing minutes after Kent State had turned the game over to its bench. Maurice Ndour attempted 18 shots in scoring a game-high 19 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. Stevie Taylor came off the bench to add 10 points and four rebounds. Javarez Willis, who entered the night as the Mid-American Conference's fourth-leading scorer at 15.1 points per game, was held to three points on one-for-seven shooting.
"That was all Derek," Senderoff said. "Obviously you have to defend as a team, but Derek is almost exclusively on the other team's top perimeter scorer every night and really takes pride in his defense. He really did a great job tonight of not allowing him to get many shot attempts, which is really what you want when defending a guy who can really score it."
Kent State is back in action on Wednesday when Toledo visits the M.A.C. Center for a 7 p.m. cross-division battle.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
