The Kent State basketball team could not avenge its 0-3 2024 record against the Zips, losing by a score of 85-71. The Flashes never led and never pulled within single digits in the second half.
Akron quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and after Kent’s offense got some points on the board to make it 12-7, the Zips took control early with a 15-2 run, generating a 17-point lead.
The Flashes had a few bursts in the first half, including a 7-0 run, but ultimately, the halftime deficit was 48-31.
After watching the lead swell to 23, Kent went on a 10-0 run to create some momentum, but they would get no closer than 13 points. Akron closed out strong and cruised to a 14-point victory, maintaining its unbeaten record in Mid-American Conference play with an overall record of 16-5, and dropping the Flashes to 13-8 (4-5).
This game looked all too familiar to last year’s regular season meeting in Kent between these two schools where the Flashes put themselves in a massive hole in the first half, then actually outscored Akron the rest of the way.
To put it plainly, Kent State came out flat. In the biggest game of the year to this point, the Flashes couldn’t make a shot and couldn’t grab a rebound.
The Zips grabbed 15 of the game’s first 18 rebounds, including the first eight rebounds of the game. Five of their first 15 rebounds were on the offensive glass.
Similar to the scoreboard, the rebounding stats were tipped in Kent State’s favor after the opening onslaught, with the Flashes out-rebounding Akron 26-24.
The Zips also shot the ball effectively, making 47.5% of their shots and made 11 of their 27 three-point attempts.
On the other side, Kent shot just 34.9% and converted six of its 25 three-point attempts.
The Flashes won a couple of key stat categories, making 21 of their 25 free throw attempts while the Zips went 16 of 22, and Kent State only committed six turnovers compared to Akron’s 12.
However, these two advantages were nowhere near enough to overcome the poor start.
Though the referees were certainly not on their A-game, neither side seemed to benefit as each team was called for 19 fouls.
Akron had six of its eight scorers reach double figures, led by junior guard Nate Johnson, who scored 20.
Flashes’ senior guard Jalen Sullinger led all scorers with 23, but got very little help from the team’s leading scorer and senior forward VonCameron Davis.
Davis shot 2-of-12 including a one-for-ten start, and finished with just six points. Again, like last year’s game, instead of being able to count on the stars, the Flashes got key buckets from role players like sophomore guard Jamal Sumlin, who scored nine points off the bench, and fifth-year senior forward Anthony Morales, who contributed ten points. However, in order to win most games, and nearly any game against a team of Akron’s caliber, guys like Davis have to show up.
The conference schedule is halfway over for these two teams, who have both played nine games.
Looking ahead, Akron will look to continue its perfect conference season against Ball State (10-11, 4-5) in its next game. The Zips currently hold a one and a half-game lead over the Miami RedHawks (16-5, 8-1). Should they finish in a tie, Akron would hold the tiebreaker over Miami.
Kent State will try to regroup and get back to .500 in MAC play when it goes on the road at Eastern Michigan (10-11, 45) for its next game followed by a break in conference action with a home game against the Sun Belt’s best, Arkansas State (18-5, 9-2), in the second part of the MAC-Sun Belt challenge.