SECOND HALF
FIRST HALF
PREGAME
FINAL ... Akron 58, Kent State 54
0:26.3 ... Two missed free throws by Akron's Betancourt lead to a Dev Manley three from the left corner. Ends a nearly five-minute drought from the field.
Flashes trail just 55-54.
1:29 ... Two critical turnovers in a row ... Tied at 51-51, but then Henniger with an illegal screen fouls out. Then Spicer-to-Jackson pass goes into Kent State bench.
Two possessions without a shot.
Zips turn both into buckets on other end and lead 55-51.
3:18 ... Another wild finish coming?
Kent State and Akron are tied 51-51. The Flashes will have the ball after an illegal screen call on Forsythe.
4:09 ... Timeout Zips as Kent State has answered another Akron run. Zips were up six, but now Kent State has grabbed a 51-50 lead on a sweeping hook in the lane by Darren Goodson.
Quincy Diggs has helped the Kent State cause taking deep jumpers on consecutive possessions that were very poor shots.
7:42 ... Kent State having all kinds of problems on offense, forcing bad shots.
The Flashes are just 4-for-22 in the second half (18.2 percent), and yet still down just three points at 46-43.
8:35 ... Treadwell layup has Akron in the lead at 44-43 ... First Zips lead since 8-6.
KSU calls timeout after a string of poor possessions.
10:40 ... Kent State has handled this first run by Akron. The Flashes now lead 43-39 thanks in large part to the play of its sophomores.
Kellon Thomas just hit a 17 footer and is now 5-for-5 from the field with a team-high five rebounds. Thomas leads all scorers with 13.
Khaliq Spicer has added another two-handed dunk ... his third of the game ...and he has eight points.
Treadwell is just 1-for-9 ... Wonder when the sleeping giant will get it going.
15:08 ... Akron run has come early. Kent State jumped ahead to its biggest lead of the game at seven points, but the Zips have since battled back to tie at 37-37.
0:26.3 ... Two missed free throws by Akron's Betancourt lead to a Dev Manley three from the left corner. Ends a nearly five-minute drought from the field.
Flashes trail just 55-54.
1:29 ... Two critical turnovers in a row ... Tied at 51-51, but then Henniger with an illegal screen fouls out. Then Spicer-to-Jackson pass goes into Kent State bench.
Two possessions without a shot.
Zips turn both into buckets on other end and lead 55-51.
3:18 ... Another wild finish coming?
Kent State and Akron are tied 51-51. The Flashes will have the ball after an illegal screen call on Forsythe.
4:09 ... Timeout Zips as Kent State has answered another Akron run. Zips were up six, but now Kent State has grabbed a 51-50 lead on a sweeping hook in the lane by Darren Goodson.
Quincy Diggs has helped the Kent State cause taking deep jumpers on consecutive possessions that were very poor shots.
7:42 ... Kent State having all kinds of problems on offense, forcing bad shots.
The Flashes are just 4-for-22 in the second half (18.2 percent), and yet still down just three points at 46-43.
8:35 ... Treadwell layup has Akron in the lead at 44-43 ... First Zips lead since 8-6.
KSU calls timeout after a string of poor possessions.
10:40 ... Kent State has handled this first run by Akron. The Flashes now lead 43-39 thanks in large part to the play of its sophomores.
Kellon Thomas just hit a 17 footer and is now 5-for-5 from the field with a team-high five rebounds. Thomas leads all scorers with 13.
Khaliq Spicer has added another two-handed dunk ... his third of the game ...and he has eight points.
Treadwell is just 1-for-9 ... Wonder when the sleeping giant will get it going.
15:08 ... Akron run has come early. Kent State jumped ahead to its biggest lead of the game at seven points, but the Zips have since battled back to tie at 37-37.
The Zips got a little help from the officials, who took away a tip-in basket by Ortiz. Bo Boroski claiming the ball was in the cylinder, but replay showed it clearly was not.
Kellon Thomas is the star of this one, though. He is 4-for-4 from field, 1-of-1 from three, 2-of-2 from line. He also has five rebounds.
Ibitayo has come up big for the Zips, too. He has 11 points and is 3-for-3 from three.
Treadwell, meanwhile, is just 1-of-9 from the field and has been a non factor. Have to expect that will change.
FIRST HALF
HALFTIME ... Kent State leads 32-27 at halftime despite the starting power forward and center spending most of the first half on the bench.
Kellon Thomas has come to play. He is 3-for-3 from the field, eight points and three rebounds from the point guard spot.
Demetrius Treadwell is really struggling for Akron, going just 1-for-7 from the field and scoring just three points in 15 first half minutes.
The ability of Kent State's guards to get anywhere they want on the floor against Akron's defense has been the biggest key to the Flashes building this five-point lead. That ability to penetrate and finish or dish has Kent State outscoring Akron 22-10 in the paint.
The Flashes are shooting 11-for-17 in the paint and just 2-for-11 on the perimeter.
Halftime numbers, Akron shooting just 37.5 percent from floor (9-for-24) and 54.5 percent from the line (6-for-11).
Kent State is at 46.4 percent (13-for-28) despite missing its first six shots from the field. In the last 18 minutes of the half, the Flashes shot 59 percent from the floor.
Derek Jackson also having a good first half for the Flashes with six points on 3-of-4 shooting.
Kris Brewer is starting to get it going, making his last two while attacking the rim after an 0-for-4 start.
Akron run is coming. Can the Flashes hold off that run?
3:11 ... Flashes trying to survive in some serious foul trouble.
Ortiz and Henniger both have two fouls, and that is forcing big minutes for freshman Marquiez Lawrence, who hasn't seen much playing time of late.
Devareaux Manley has three fouls for the Flashes.
And despite a 9-3 foul differential and Akron attempting five more free throws, KSU is clinging to a 25-24 lead.
Kris Brewer with a nice drive and lefty finish at around the four minute mark got the junior on the scoreboard. Hopefully that gets him rolling.
7:36 ... Khaliq Spicer has six points off of the bench, including four on two-handed dunks on great drive and dishes by Thomas and Jackson.
The Flashes guards are getting anywhere on the floor that they want, and that's a big advantage early.
They need to get Kris Brewer going, however. Brewer is 0-for-4 from the field, and he is having a hard time defensively keeping up with cutting Akron guards.
Lead for the Golden Flashes is 19-16.
11:47 ... Kent State up 13-8 at second media timeout and in large part due to the work of the guards on the defensive end.
Kellon Thomas and Kris Brewer have three defensive rebounds each as the Flashes have held the Zips to one-and-out on just about every possession.
Three by Manley and transition jumper by Thomas on the other end.
15:10 ... Kent State leads it 6-5 at the first media timeout. The Flashes have settled in a bit after an 0-for-5 start from the floor that included two point-blank misses by Mark Henniger and another by Chris Ortiz.
Kellon Thomas has come to play. He is 3-for-3 from the field, eight points and three rebounds from the point guard spot.
Demetrius Treadwell is really struggling for Akron, going just 1-for-7 from the field and scoring just three points in 15 first half minutes.
The ability of Kent State's guards to get anywhere they want on the floor against Akron's defense has been the biggest key to the Flashes building this five-point lead. That ability to penetrate and finish or dish has Kent State outscoring Akron 22-10 in the paint.
The Flashes are shooting 11-for-17 in the paint and just 2-for-11 on the perimeter.
Halftime numbers, Akron shooting just 37.5 percent from floor (9-for-24) and 54.5 percent from the line (6-for-11).
Kent State is at 46.4 percent (13-for-28) despite missing its first six shots from the field. In the last 18 minutes of the half, the Flashes shot 59 percent from the floor.
Derek Jackson also having a good first half for the Flashes with six points on 3-of-4 shooting.
Kris Brewer is starting to get it going, making his last two while attacking the rim after an 0-for-4 start.
Akron run is coming. Can the Flashes hold off that run?
3:11 ... Flashes trying to survive in some serious foul trouble.
Ortiz and Henniger both have two fouls, and that is forcing big minutes for freshman Marquiez Lawrence, who hasn't seen much playing time of late.
Devareaux Manley has three fouls for the Flashes.
And despite a 9-3 foul differential and Akron attempting five more free throws, KSU is clinging to a 25-24 lead.
Kris Brewer with a nice drive and lefty finish at around the four minute mark got the junior on the scoreboard. Hopefully that gets him rolling.
7:36 ... Khaliq Spicer has six points off of the bench, including four on two-handed dunks on great drive and dishes by Thomas and Jackson.
The Flashes guards are getting anywhere on the floor that they want, and that's a big advantage early.
They need to get Kris Brewer going, however. Brewer is 0-for-4 from the field, and he is having a hard time defensively keeping up with cutting Akron guards.
Lead for the Golden Flashes is 19-16.
11:47 ... Kent State up 13-8 at second media timeout and in large part due to the work of the guards on the defensive end.
Kellon Thomas and Kris Brewer have three defensive rebounds each as the Flashes have held the Zips to one-and-out on just about every possession.
Three by Manley and transition jumper by Thomas on the other end.
15:10 ... Kent State leads it 6-5 at the first media timeout. The Flashes have settled in a bit after an 0-for-5 start from the floor that included two point-blank misses by Mark Henniger and another by Chris Ortiz.
Two acrobatic layups by Derek Jackson, including one on a backdoor cut and then find by Darren Goodson, helped the Flashes right the ship. Kellon Thomas with a nice driving layup has helped. Flashes 3-for-11 now, but Akron just 2-for-7.
PREGAME
6:45 p.m. ... As always, Ty Linder and I have the radio call tonight on WHLO 640 AM.
The game is also simulcast online on iHeartRadio's Golden Flashes Network and on WHLO's iHeart station.
Questions and comments during the broadcast, tweet at me at @CarducciKSU, and Ty and I will discuss on the air.
6:34 p.m. … I had some internet issues prior to tonight’s game, but finally have it all sorted out.
The game is also simulcast online on iHeartRadio's Golden Flashes Network and on WHLO's iHeart station.
Questions and comments during the broadcast, tweet at me at @CarducciKSU, and Ty and I will discuss on the air.
6:34 p.m. … I had some internet issues prior to tonight’s game, but finally have it all sorted out.
Officials are Terry Wymer, Bo Boroski and Buddy Mayborg. A veteran crew. Wymer used to be a fixture in the Kent State-Akron rivalry games before he started working more Big Ten games.
Good to have him back on the whistle for this one.
Talking with Kent State’s coaches before this one and they are talking about how the attitude tonight has to be one of going to war … especially on the glass where they need bodies on bodies for 40 minutes. They need a similar attitude defensively, with forwards forcing Akron’s bigs out of the paint and guards trying to pressure the Zips weaknesses in the backcourt to force turnovers while also finding a way to dig down and help in the post.
Win and get a little help and a home first-round MAC Tournament game on Monday is still a very real possibility. Going on the road to either Miami or Northern Illinois is no bargain, and then win and have to return right back to northeast Ohio for the next round. That won’t be easy, so the Flashes have to come out with a greater sense of urgency than they had against Miami on Tuesday night. My guess is with Akron on the opposite bench, that won’t be a problem.
Starting lineup for the Flashes: Brewer, Thomas, Ortiz, Henniger, Jackson.
Starting lineup for the ZipsL Treadwell, Evans, Ibitayo, Diggs, Johnson
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