SECOND HALF
FINAL: Akron 61, Kent State 52
The Golden Flashes will look back at the missed dunk by Spicer leading to the 5-point swing as the turning point.
There were other factors in this one. Kent State will always be fortunate to lose by a double-digit score when its senior backcourt struggles the way it did tonight.
Devareaux Manley, Derek Jackson and Kris Brewer struggled to just 25-percent shooting (8-for-32) while point guards Jackson and Brewer committed seven turnovers against just two assists.
Manley did fight his way to 20 points, going 5-of-17 from the field and 3-for-13 from three-point range.
Khaliq Spicer had seven points and 10 rebounds, but that missed dunk was a backbreaker.
Chris Ortiz played well with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Akron did a good job of not just relying on the three. The Zips shot just 6-for-19 from the arc, but behind Pat Forsythe (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Deji Ibitayo (11 points 5 rebounds), outscored Akron 30-20 in the paint.
2:53 ... The Flashes used a 7-0 run to cut Akron's lead to 10 points at 58-48, but their inability to corral a defensive rebound allowed Akron a second-chance three-pointer by McAdams. The Zips are up 61-48.
Manley has 18 points to lead Kent State, but the senior guard has made just 5-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-11 from three-point range.
Kris Brewer and Derek Jackson are a combined 3-for-15.
With no Hall, it's tough for the Flashes to win when the senior trio goes 8-for-30.
7:28 ... A big 5-point swing may end up being the turning point to this game.
Khaliq Spicer missed a soaring one-handed dunk at about the 8-minute mark. That turned into a three-pointer by McAdams in the right corner.
Instead of being down just 5, the Flashes find themselves down 51-41. And the Zips will have a chance to add to that lead from the foul line after Marquiez Lawrence picked up No. 4 on a hard foul on Ibitayo.
11:03 ... The Flashes are in some trouble, down 48-40 after getting out-hustled on the boards and three opportunities for Akron ending in a McAdams three from the left corner.
After an 0-for-5 first half from three-point range, the Zips are 3-for-7 in the second half.
12:57 ... Akron and Kent State came into this game as the two worst free-throw shooting teams in the MAC.
Kent State has lived up to that at 5-for-9, but Akron isn't doing its part, going 9-of-10 so far from the line. Two free throws by Ibitayo have extended a mini run for Akron to 6-0 and given the Zips a 43-37 lead.
Far too many turnovers for Kent State. The Flashes' 10 turnovers have led to 13 Akron points.
15:30 ... Both teams starting to catch a little bit of heat from three-point range. Dev Manley has two threes in the early going of the second half and Chris Ortiz has another. But threes by Akron's Cheatham and Gladden have helped Akron extend the lead just a bit at 37-32.
The Golden Flashes will look back at the missed dunk by Spicer leading to the 5-point swing as the turning point.
There were other factors in this one. Kent State will always be fortunate to lose by a double-digit score when its senior backcourt struggles the way it did tonight.
Devareaux Manley, Derek Jackson and Kris Brewer struggled to just 25-percent shooting (8-for-32) while point guards Jackson and Brewer committed seven turnovers against just two assists.
Manley did fight his way to 20 points, going 5-of-17 from the field and 3-for-13 from three-point range.
Khaliq Spicer had seven points and 10 rebounds, but that missed dunk was a backbreaker.
Chris Ortiz played well with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Akron did a good job of not just relying on the three. The Zips shot just 6-for-19 from the arc, but behind Pat Forsythe (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Deji Ibitayo (11 points 5 rebounds), outscored Akron 30-20 in the paint.
2:53 ... The Flashes used a 7-0 run to cut Akron's lead to 10 points at 58-48, but their inability to corral a defensive rebound allowed Akron a second-chance three-pointer by McAdams. The Zips are up 61-48.
Manley has 18 points to lead Kent State, but the senior guard has made just 5-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-11 from three-point range.
Kris Brewer and Derek Jackson are a combined 3-for-15.
With no Hall, it's tough for the Flashes to win when the senior trio goes 8-for-30.
7:28 ... A big 5-point swing may end up being the turning point to this game.
Khaliq Spicer missed a soaring one-handed dunk at about the 8-minute mark. That turned into a three-pointer by McAdams in the right corner.
Instead of being down just 5, the Flashes find themselves down 51-41. And the Zips will have a chance to add to that lead from the foul line after Marquiez Lawrence picked up No. 4 on a hard foul on Ibitayo.
11:03 ... The Flashes are in some trouble, down 48-40 after getting out-hustled on the boards and three opportunities for Akron ending in a McAdams three from the left corner.
After an 0-for-5 first half from three-point range, the Zips are 3-for-7 in the second half.
12:57 ... Akron and Kent State came into this game as the two worst free-throw shooting teams in the MAC.
Kent State has lived up to that at 5-for-9, but Akron isn't doing its part, going 9-of-10 so far from the line. Two free throws by Ibitayo have extended a mini run for Akron to 6-0 and given the Zips a 43-37 lead.
Far too many turnovers for Kent State. The Flashes' 10 turnovers have led to 13 Akron points.
15:30 ... Both teams starting to catch a little bit of heat from three-point range. Dev Manley has two threes in the early going of the second half and Chris Ortiz has another. But threes by Akron's Cheatham and Gladden have helped Akron extend the lead just a bit at 37-32.
FIRST HALF
HALFTIME: Akron 25, Kent State 23
The Flashes have to feel great about being down just 2 points at the break after trailing by as many as 10 points.
A freak driving layup by Dev Manley with about 20 seconds to go cut the Akron lead to 2. Manley attacked the middle of the lane, tried to draw contact, hung in the air and flipped the ball over his shoulder without being able to see the hoop.
Akron has yet to hit a three (0-for-5), but the scary thing is you have to know that will not continue.
Kent State stayed close enough thanks to defense and rebounding. After the 3-for-17 start, the Flashes were 5-of-9 to close the half.
Manley has 8 points to lead the Flashes, playing hard and finding a way to have an impact despite a 2-for-8 first half.
Khaliq Spicer has six rebounds and has changed some shots at the rim.
For Akron, Noah Robotham has 6 points on 3-for-3 shooting. Pat Forsythe also has 6 points while Deji Ibitayo has 5 points.
3:39 ... The Flashes appear to have righted the ship.
A floater by Derek Jackson broke the ice. Khaliq Spicer followed with a two-handed slam after rebounding a missed jumper by Manley. Those were followed by Kris Brewer banking in a three from the top, ala Darren Goodson.
That cut the Akron lead to 19-16.
It's now 21-16 with the Flashes getting the basketball back out of the timeout after a pretty awful call against Akron for an illegal screen by Kwan Cheatham.
7:27 ... Kent State will have the ball out of this media timeout thanks to a bailout foul call after an ugly miss.
A 10-0 run by Akron has the Zips up 19-9... and Akron has yet to make a three.
The Flashes are now 3-for-17 from the field.
Thank goodness for the Flashes' work on the offensive glass. KSU has five offensive rebounds and 8 of its 9 points have been second-chance.
8:48 ... Ugly start to this one as Kent State is struggling now from both ends.
Four turnovers for the Flashes and a 3-for-15 start offensively. The Flashes haven't even been able to get off a shot since the 11:16 timeout.
11:16 ... The bad news: Kent State is struggling on offense while playing mostly a half-court game.
The good news: Despite shooting just 3-for-15 in the first 8-plus minutes, the Flashes are hanging in there, down just 12-9.
A Devareaux Manley three coming off of a Khaliq Spicer offensive rebound at around the 12-minute mark has helped the KSU cause.
15:48 ... Kent State leads 5-4 at the first media timeout with an off balance, buzzer-beating three by Derek Jackson the difference.
The Flashes have to feel great about being down just 2 points at the break after trailing by as many as 10 points.
A freak driving layup by Dev Manley with about 20 seconds to go cut the Akron lead to 2. Manley attacked the middle of the lane, tried to draw contact, hung in the air and flipped the ball over his shoulder without being able to see the hoop.
Akron has yet to hit a three (0-for-5), but the scary thing is you have to know that will not continue.
Kent State stayed close enough thanks to defense and rebounding. After the 3-for-17 start, the Flashes were 5-of-9 to close the half.
Manley has 8 points to lead the Flashes, playing hard and finding a way to have an impact despite a 2-for-8 first half.
Khaliq Spicer has six rebounds and has changed some shots at the rim.
For Akron, Noah Robotham has 6 points on 3-for-3 shooting. Pat Forsythe also has 6 points while Deji Ibitayo has 5 points.
3:39 ... The Flashes appear to have righted the ship.
A floater by Derek Jackson broke the ice. Khaliq Spicer followed with a two-handed slam after rebounding a missed jumper by Manley. Those were followed by Kris Brewer banking in a three from the top, ala Darren Goodson.
That cut the Akron lead to 19-16.
It's now 21-16 with the Flashes getting the basketball back out of the timeout after a pretty awful call against Akron for an illegal screen by Kwan Cheatham.
7:27 ... Kent State will have the ball out of this media timeout thanks to a bailout foul call after an ugly miss.
A 10-0 run by Akron has the Zips up 19-9... and Akron has yet to make a three.
The Flashes are now 3-for-17 from the field.
Thank goodness for the Flashes' work on the offensive glass. KSU has five offensive rebounds and 8 of its 9 points have been second-chance.
8:48 ... Ugly start to this one as Kent State is struggling now from both ends.
Four turnovers for the Flashes and a 3-for-15 start offensively. The Flashes haven't even been able to get off a shot since the 11:16 timeout.
11:16 ... The bad news: Kent State is struggling on offense while playing mostly a half-court game.
The good news: Despite shooting just 3-for-15 in the first 8-plus minutes, the Flashes are hanging in there, down just 12-9.
A Devareaux Manley three coming off of a Khaliq Spicer offensive rebound at around the 12-minute mark has helped the KSU cause.
15:48 ... Kent State leads 5-4 at the first media timeout with an off balance, buzzer-beating three by Derek Jackson the difference.
Akron has yet to attempt a three.
You can already see how the loss of Jimmy Hall is impacting this game as Akron is not respecting Kent State's ability to score inside. With no double team, perimeter shooters are not getting many open looks. Hall consistently drew double teams and found open shooters.
PREGAME
6:46 p.m. ... Officials are on the floor, and it's a veteran MAC crew with Glenn "Buddy" Mayborg, Lamont Simpson and Larry Scirotto. Former MAC officiating mainstay J.D. Collins is the observer. Collins was one of the best, and he is missed.Simpson, by the way, worked the Iowa-Maryland "PokeGate" game on Sunday.
6:34 p.m. ... Ty Linder and I are very excited to be joined by former Kent State star Trevor Huffman on tonight's broadcast. Trevor, who was one of the leaders of the 2002 Elite Eight run, recently concluded a long and successful professional career overseas. He will serve as our sideline reporter tonight, offering insight from the Kent State huddle.
If you have any questions or comments for Trevor, Ty or me, tweet me at @CarducciKSU.
Listen in on WHLO 640 AM and iHeartRadio's WHLO station.
6:05 p.m. ... The Golden Flashes and Zips are getting some shots on the James A. Rhodes Arena floor as we are inside an hour to tip-off.
The biggest key to me in this one is defending the three, and in particular defending it in transition. While Kent State remains one of the top teams in the nation at defending the three, transition defense has been a bit of a problem of late. The Flashes have been outscored 26-9 on the fast break in their last three games – two of them road losses at Buffalo and Western Michigan.No team relies on the three more than the Zips, who have shot more from beyond the arc than any team in the MAC. We thought Central Michigan liked to fire it from long range a few weeks back, but with 609 attempts, the Zips have attempted 37 more threes than Central this season. No other team in the MAC has attempted more than 465 (Ball State). Kent State has attempted 450. The Flashes hit the three at a higher percentage, though at .362 to Akron's .355.
Akron is also dead last in the league in opponent's three-point percentage (.364), so Kent State's ability to get hot from the perimeter could be a key. The Flashes are looking more to long-range shooting to carry them through this stretch without Jimmy Hall. This is a game where Hall's length and inside scoring could have been extremely valuable. His ability to help protect the basket also helped to fee perimeter defenders like Derek Jackson, Kris Brewer and Devareaux Manley to defend the arc. With four three-point shooters on the floor at all times for Akron, that group will need to have a big game on the defensive end and continue to challenge even without Hall behind them. The battle cry tonight: get back, protect the rim first, but then find shooters and force them to take contested twos.
This is an unusual Akron team with no true stars since the loss of its player of the year candidate after just one game. The Zips are one of those teams that likes to prove that the whole really can be more than the sum of its parts. This may be Keith Dambrot's best coaching job, and he was already as good as there is in the Mid-American Conference. Rob Senderoff should also be considered for coach of the year. His task is a bit harder as Hall's loss has come in the final third of the season, forcing him to make some major adjustments on the fly with an already short bench due to three redshirts and the loss of Kellon Thomas to injury (there is good news with Kris Brewer is back tonight, however). Dambrot was fortunate to have more time to tweak roles and work new combinations during the non-conference season. He also has a full roster without the redshirts.
Akron is No. 2 in the conference in effective field-goal shooting and a top-50 team in converting jumpers. The Zips are third in the entire nation with a whopping 41 percent of their scoring coming from beyond the three-point arc.
This will also be a battle of the two worst free-throw shooting teams in the conference. Akron has struggled a bit more in conference play than Kent State (59.5 percent), and only 17 percent of its points come from the foul line (317th in the nation.
The Flashes are going to want to get out and run considering Akron's own struggles defensively (292nd in the nation). In the half court, the Zips are very good, ranking 15th in the nation in overall half-court defensive efficiency.
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