SECOND HALF
FIRST HALF
PREGAME
FINAL: Ohio 59, Kent State 53
Guard play is supposed to be the strength of this Kent State team, but tonight starters Kris Brewer, Devareaux Manley and Derek Jackson combined to make just 5-of-32 from the field.
You are not going to make many shots when your starting guards combine to make just 15 percent of their 32 field-goal attempts.
Here's a link to the wrap-up on KentStateSports.com:
http://www.kentstatesports.com/news/2014/1/8/MBB_0108143745.aspx
0:39 ... Bobcat lead is 55-49 after two Kellogg Free throws.
Flashes still too many empty possessions. KSU coaches furious with the officials at a series of no calls at the basket on shots by Brewer and Henniger.
3:46 ... Ohio is up 51-46 as Kent State has suffered a few empty possessions in a row.
Senderoff thought Dev Manley was whacked on a 3-point try from the right corner but there was a no call. Ohio sprinted down the floor for a Wilkins 3-pointer. Instead of up three, the Flashes found themselves down three. That might be the key series of this game to this point.
The 5-point lead came on a miss by Jackson on a difficult driving layup that led to an easy bust-out dunk by Ndour.
Kent State guards are struggling. Manley is 2-for-10, Brewer is 2-for-11 and Jackson is 1-for-8. A combined 5-for-29 from the starting guards.
7:46 ... Mark Henniger put Kent State into the lead with a perfect slip to the basket on an inbound play. Ohio had no idea where he was on the layup.
Flashes defense continues to be excellent, forcing the third turnover by Ndour as the Flashes guards helped on the forward on his drive down the lane.
Flashes shooting only 36 percent from the field in the second half, but it doesn't seem that bad. Offense has been significantly better in the last 12 minutes, maybe because they are playing with more of a purpose, more of a plan.
9:16 ... Kent State and Ohio University are tied 42-42 as the starters check back into the ballgame.
12:27 ... Kent State has battled back into the lead at 38-36 on a Dev Manley transition three-pointer on a pass from Goodson, who stole the ball under the Ohio basket and led the break.
Guard play is supposed to be the strength of this Kent State team, but tonight starters Kris Brewer, Devareaux Manley and Derek Jackson combined to make just 5-of-32 from the field.
You are not going to make many shots when your starting guards combine to make just 15 percent of their 32 field-goal attempts.
Here's a link to the wrap-up on KentStateSports.com:
http://www.kentstatesports.com/news/2014/1/8/MBB_0108143745.aspx
0:39 ... Bobcat lead is 55-49 after two Kellogg Free throws.
Flashes still too many empty possessions. KSU coaches furious with the officials at a series of no calls at the basket on shots by Brewer and Henniger.
3:46 ... Ohio is up 51-46 as Kent State has suffered a few empty possessions in a row.
Senderoff thought Dev Manley was whacked on a 3-point try from the right corner but there was a no call. Ohio sprinted down the floor for a Wilkins 3-pointer. Instead of up three, the Flashes found themselves down three. That might be the key series of this game to this point.
The 5-point lead came on a miss by Jackson on a difficult driving layup that led to an easy bust-out dunk by Ndour.
Kent State guards are struggling. Manley is 2-for-10, Brewer is 2-for-11 and Jackson is 1-for-8. A combined 5-for-29 from the starting guards.
7:46 ... Mark Henniger put Kent State into the lead with a perfect slip to the basket on an inbound play. Ohio had no idea where he was on the layup.
Flashes defense continues to be excellent, forcing the third turnover by Ndour as the Flashes guards helped on the forward on his drive down the lane.
Flashes shooting only 36 percent from the field in the second half, but it doesn't seem that bad. Offense has been significantly better in the last 12 minutes, maybe because they are playing with more of a purpose, more of a plan.
9:16 ... Kent State and Ohio University are tied 42-42 as the starters check back into the ballgame.
12:27 ... Kent State has battled back into the lead at 38-36 on a Dev Manley transition three-pointer on a pass from Goodson, who stole the ball under the Ohio basket and led the break.
Flashes offense is clicking in the second half with the exception of several missed layups. Better shots. Better patience.
Defense has still been very good as Khaliq Spicer has two blocks in the last few minutes. The defensive rotation.
A foul and another quick media timeout will have Darren Goodson going to the free-throw line with 11:52 to play and trying to extend an 8-0 run and the 38-36 lead.
A foul and another quick media timeout will have Darren Goodson going to the free-throw line with 11:52 to play and trying to extend an 8-0 run and the 38-36 lead.
FIRST HALF
0:00 ... HALFTIME ... Ohio 26, Kent State 19
The defensive effort has been outstanding.
The offense ... not so much. Flashes shooting just 8-for-30 from the field with more turnovers (6) than assists (5). KSU is also 2-for-12 from three-point range. Too many shots early in possessions. Too many turnovers. Too many individuals trying to do too much.
Defensively, however, the Flashes have limited Maurice Ndour to just 3 points on 1-for-4 shooting. Nick Kellogg has heated up a bit after a slow start with 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting.
The lead changed nine times in the first 11 minutes. Since then, though, Kent State has really struggled.
2:48 ... Dangerous period of the game as KSU has fallen behind by a 22-17 lead and the Flashes offense is really struggling. Too many early shots in the possession. Too many turnovers. Guys are just trying to do too much.
They need to get back to moving the basketball.
Numbers at this point ... Flashes 7-for-26 from the field ... 6 turnovers against 4 assists.
7:54 ... Defensive intensity is up ... Shooting is poor.
Both teams are 5-for-17 from the field.
Good news is the Flashes have found a way to slow Kellogg and Ndour in the early going. That duo is a combined 1-for-6.
11:39 ... Great to see Darren Goodson back to work as a facilitator in the offense. His post-to-post pass to Khaliq Spicer for a spinning baseline dunk has Kent State leading 9-8 at this timeout.
Just before the break Goodson also did a nice job of playing the passing lane to knock a Bobcats look to the post out of bounds.
The best action right now is on the Kent State defensive end with Derek Jackson chasing Nick Kellogg all over the floor.
15:32 ... Kent State leads 4-3 at the first timeout.
Excellent defensive effort for Kent State so far. Stark difference between this and the loss to Cleveland State here just after Christmas.
Chris Ortiz is working hard in his matchup with Ndour.
Thomas, Simmons, Spicer and Goodson check in during the timeout, joining Kris Brewer.
The defensive effort has been outstanding.
The offense ... not so much. Flashes shooting just 8-for-30 from the field with more turnovers (6) than assists (5). KSU is also 2-for-12 from three-point range. Too many shots early in possessions. Too many turnovers. Too many individuals trying to do too much.
Defensively, however, the Flashes have limited Maurice Ndour to just 3 points on 1-for-4 shooting. Nick Kellogg has heated up a bit after a slow start with 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting.
The lead changed nine times in the first 11 minutes. Since then, though, Kent State has really struggled.
2:48 ... Dangerous period of the game as KSU has fallen behind by a 22-17 lead and the Flashes offense is really struggling. Too many early shots in the possession. Too many turnovers. Guys are just trying to do too much.
They need to get back to moving the basketball.
Numbers at this point ... Flashes 7-for-26 from the field ... 6 turnovers against 4 assists.
7:54 ... Defensive intensity is up ... Shooting is poor.
Both teams are 5-for-17 from the field.
Good news is the Flashes have found a way to slow Kellogg and Ndour in the early going. That duo is a combined 1-for-6.
11:39 ... Great to see Darren Goodson back to work as a facilitator in the offense. His post-to-post pass to Khaliq Spicer for a spinning baseline dunk has Kent State leading 9-8 at this timeout.
Just before the break Goodson also did a nice job of playing the passing lane to knock a Bobcats look to the post out of bounds.
The best action right now is on the Kent State defensive end with Derek Jackson chasing Nick Kellogg all over the floor.
15:32 ... Kent State leads 4-3 at the first timeout.
Excellent defensive effort for Kent State so far. Stark difference between this and the loss to Cleveland State here just after Christmas.
Chris Ortiz is working hard in his matchup with Ndour.
Thomas, Simmons, Spicer and Goodson check in during the timeout, joining Kris Brewer.
PREGAME
6:10 p.m. ... The Golden Flashes will wear their new white uniforms tonight.
Here is a look at the shorts as modeled by Derek Jackson during pre-game today. (UPDATE: the front of the jersey is also below)
If you post here or tweet me @CarducciKSU, we will discuss your questions and comments on the air.
The radio broadcast is on WHLO 640 AM and simulcast online on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio network: http://www.iheart.com/live/Golden-FlashesRadio-6068/
5:15 p.m. ... We are an hour and 15 minutes
I took a peek in earlier this afternoon as Ohio University held its shoot around on the M.A.C. Center floor, and it is still unusual to see Jim Christian in the green of the Bobcats.
Quite a bit was made last year about the friendship between Christian and KSU head coach Rob Senderoff. They served as best men at each others weddings. Christian's hire here is what brought Senderoff to Kent in the first place. Now here they are as rivals in a one-bid league. That's not easy, and yet their friendship hasn't taken a hit ... other than the fact that they can't talk quite as much on the phone and share what is going on with their respective teams, like they did when Christian was at TCU.
Senderoff will have to deal with a similar rivalry against an old friend on Saturday when Ball State comes to town. As he did with Christian, Senderoff was once in the wedding party of first-year Cardinals head coach James Whitford. They became close friends when they were graduate assistants under Herb Sendek at Miami of Ohio, and that was on the same staff where Christian was an assistant coach.
So, of course the friendships are on hold tonight and Saturday night.
Looking at Ohio University, there are several keys for the Golden Flashes. Stopping the transition game of the Bobcats is priority No. 1. Ohio is probably the best transition team we've seen this year, with Nick Kellogg, Javarez Willis, Stevie Taylor and T.J. Hall. Their bigs also run the floor.
Finding a way to slow down Kellogg and Maurice Ndour will also be extremely important. They are the MAC's two-headed monster. Kellogg is more than just a shooter in his senior season. While he is still dangerous from three-point range, shooting 46.2-percent, he is putting the ball on the floor more and getting to the basket average his 14.7 per game. Ndour is giving everyone problems this season while averaging 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He is long and athletic at 6-foot-9 and has a motor similar to Treadwell at Akron. He can also hit from the perimeter, where he is 7-for-19 on the year. Pressuring him will be important as he already has 29 turnovers on the year.
Mark Henniger is likely to get the assignment on Ndour. He will likely need some help with guards digging the post. Derek Jackson is certain to be the one chasing Kellogg all over the floor.
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