SECOND HALF
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1:05 ... A difficult contested 3 by Sellers with Jackson in his face has cut the KSU lead to 59-50.
The Cardinals have called a quick timeout.
A Kris Brewer missed free throw on the front end of a a 1-and-1 set the stage for the Sellers three.
3:38 ... A 5-0 run has the Flashes up by their biggest margin at 55-43, and KSU has the ball after a miss coming out of the timeout.
4:29 ... We've had some internet issues for most of the day, but back up and running now.
The Flashes lead 53-43 thanks to a Jackson steal leading to a Dev Manley three from the right corner.
Another steal by Jimmy Hall has given the Flashes the basketball again trying to add to this 53-43 lead.
11:39 ... Derek Jackson just made another hustle play, stopping a fast break by racing back to eliminate the passing lane for Zavier Turner. When Ball State missed a contested layup, Jackson batted the ball free and outraced Franko House to the corner for the loose ball, drawing a foul along the way.
That play will have Kent State back in possession of the basketball trying to add to largest lead at 41-31.
14:36 ... Jimmy Hall will head to the line out of this timeout hoping to add to his 20-point night.
A nice up-and-under move by Hall drew a foul by Franko House, who along with Bo Calhoun, has been keeping the Cardinals in it. House and Calhoun both have matching 10-point, 4-rebound nights.
Ball State has found little from the perimeter, shooting 3-for-11 from three. Ball State's top scorer, Zavier Turner has been a non-factor, going scoreless off the bench.
16:48 ... The Flashes are still up nine at 34-25 as the Cardinals have grabbed a timeout.
Jimmy Hall is shockingly 0-for-1 in the first three minutes here. It's a shock any time he misses today.
Khaliq Spicer put the Flashes on the board early in the second half with an offensive rebound and put back of a miss by Manley. The Flashes have forced a few turnovers already in this half as defense continues to rule the day.
FIRST HALF
Jimmy Hall's 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting have Kent State in the lead at the break.
3:32 ... Jimmy Hall continues to control the action, and not just with his scoring.
The sophomore forward now has 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He also has four rebounds, and he just dished out his second assist on a great post-to-post feed to Khaliq Spicer under the basket.
Devareaux Manley hit a three at around the five-minute mark that hopefully will get him going a bit after misses on his first two from the arc.
Bo Calhoun has been the best player on the floor for the Cardinals. He has 8 points and 4 rebounds.
7:01 ... The Flashes lead 17-16 and Jimmy Hall has 13 of those 17 points.
Hall is playing extremely well on both ends. Unfortunately, when he has been out (and he was on the bench for a fairly long stretch), there hasn't been anyone to pick up the offensive slack.
Hall's layup at the 9-minute mark ended a 7-minute stretch between field goals for the Flashes.
Who would believe this? Kent State involved in another defensive battle.
The Flashes are holding Ball State to 40 percent shooting at 6-of-15.
11:52 ... The last Kent State basket came at 15:59 when Jimmy Hall hit a three. The 4:07 drought has allowed Ball State to jump into a 10-9.
Bo Calhoun's driving layup at the 12:56 mark put the Cardinals ahead. He drew a foul, but should have been whistled for a travel.
KSU going small out of this timeout with Derek Jackson, Kris Brewer, Dev Manley, Gary Akbar and Chris Ortiz.
Ortiz started at the three. Now he is playing the five.
14:14 ... Kent State's length advantage is noticeable already as the Golden Flashes have grabbed an early 9-5 lead behind 7 quick points from Jimmy Hall ... including a three pointer from the left wing.
The sophomore forward now has 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He also has four rebounds, and he just dished out his second assist on a great post-to-post feed to Khaliq Spicer under the basket.
Devareaux Manley hit a three at around the five-minute mark that hopefully will get him going a bit after misses on his first two from the arc.
Bo Calhoun has been the best player on the floor for the Cardinals. He has 8 points and 4 rebounds.
7:01 ... The Flashes lead 17-16 and Jimmy Hall has 13 of those 17 points.
Hall is playing extremely well on both ends. Unfortunately, when he has been out (and he was on the bench for a fairly long stretch), there hasn't been anyone to pick up the offensive slack.
Hall's layup at the 9-minute mark ended a 7-minute stretch between field goals for the Flashes.
Who would believe this? Kent State involved in another defensive battle.
The Flashes are holding Ball State to 40 percent shooting at 6-of-15.
11:52 ... The last Kent State basket came at 15:59 when Jimmy Hall hit a three. The 4:07 drought has allowed Ball State to jump into a 10-9.
Bo Calhoun's driving layup at the 12:56 mark put the Cardinals ahead. He drew a foul, but should have been whistled for a travel.
KSU going small out of this timeout with Derek Jackson, Kris Brewer, Dev Manley, Gary Akbar and Chris Ortiz.
Ortiz started at the three. Now he is playing the five.
14:14 ... Kent State's length advantage is noticeable already as the Golden Flashes have grabbed an early 9-5 lead behind 7 quick points from Jimmy Hall ... including a three pointer from the left wing.
Chris Ortiz has made two big plays on defensive rotations, one to block a shot and another to force a travel by Ball State's Bo Calhoun.
PREGAME
1:52 p.m. ... Starting lineups are in.
For Ball State, Francis Kiapaway and Jeremiah Davis are the guards while Bo Calhoun, Franko House and Sean Sellers are listed as forwards.
A familiar lineup for Kent State over the last few weeks with Derek Jackson and Devareaux Manley at the guards, Chris Ortiz and Jimmy Hall at the forwards and Khaliq Spicer at center.
1:46 p.m. ... Kellon Thomas continues to be day-to-day for the Golden Flashes, but the junior point guard is in street clothes today in Muncie. That's a disappointment for him and for a large group of friends and family who made the trip from his home in nearby Indianapolis to support Kellon and the Flashes.
Khaliq Spicer will play and start despite an ankle injury suffered late in Wednesday's win over Toledo.
1:14 p.m. ... Looks like it is official that Turner will play. Kamieniecki will not, however. The senior post tweaked his back in the Cardinals' last game. he is here in street clothes.
I'm sure some of you recognize the name, though. His dad is Scott Kamieniecki, the former Major League pitcher who played for the Yankees, Orioles, Indians and Braves from 1991-to-2000.
Meanwhile, point guard Zavier Turner is expected to play today after missing Wednesday's loss to Ohio for disciplinary reasons, he will not be in the starting lineup.
12:41 p.m. ... After a long 4 1/2 hour drive, Ty Linder and I have arrived at Worthern Arena and are courtside watching Kent State and Ball State get up a few pre-game shots.
Zavier Turner is in the arena after what was apparently a mysterious DNP-CD against Ohio this week. Rob Senderoff and his staff had been wondering for a few days if Turner would be back for today's game. His return would make life more than a little more difficult for the Golden Flashes as Senderoff believes he may be the fastest point guard Kent State has faced so far this season. The Cardinals want to get out and run, and he is a big key to their success in transition.
Kent State has done a very good job defending the three so far this season, allowing just 78 so far (13th in the nation). Limiting Ball State's ability to find open looks from the arc will be a key today as the Cardinals can be very good and dependent on the three ball. They have five guys who have made 18 or more threes this season. They also shoot the three at 36 percent as a team, which ranks in the top 100 in the nation.
If Kent State can bring the defense of the last two weeks back on the road today, it should be able to speed up Ball State and force turnovers. At 270th in the country in turnover percentage, the Cardinals are capable of getting rattled by pressure defense.
Another question mark for the Cardinals is the five position, where 6-foot-8 Scott Kamieniecki was dinged up earlier this week. If he plays, he'll give the Cardinals another capable scorer around the rim. If Kamieniecki is out, Ball State's tallest player in the rotation would be 6-foot-7 sophomore Rocco Belcaster, who averages 4.4 points per game off the bench. Whether Kamieniecki plays or not, though, look for the Flashes to attack inside first with Jimmy Hall. Yes, Hall's numbers have fallen off a bit of late, but don't be fooled. The concern he forces in opposing defenses and his ability to pass out of double teams creates opportunities for teammates.
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