Kent State was able to gut out a big road win at Louisiana Monday night 70-66 in the season opener, and in the opener of the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge.
The Flashes fell down 10-0 to start the game, but kept defending, eventually made big plays offensively, and imposed their physicality and will to start with a big road win.
Kent State displayed their depth, as they played 11 players in the evening, and received contributions from all of them at some point. Von Cameron Davis led the Flashes with 17 points, on 13-15 from the free throw line. Morgan Safford added 15 and Cian Medley had 11.
“We have a really resilient group,” KSU assistant Jalen Avery said on the Kent State radio network. “We got some older guys, Von Cameron Davis, Cli’Ron Hornbeak to be exact. Guys that have been through the storm. You can always feel good on the sidelines when you have older guys that have been through it, been in MAC Championship games. It feels good to be able to rally and come back but that’s what we expect from our guys at this point.”
SULLINGER IN THE MIX: After many questions and uncertainty the last few months, Jalen Sullinger did in fact suit up and play for the Golden Flashes Monday night. Coming off the bench, Sullinged ended up playing big minutes, finishing 2-6 from the field and 2-5 from 3FG, including a dagger made under two minutes to put the Flashes up six.
DEPTH DISPLAYED: Kent State played 11 players, and a bench group with early sparks from Jamal Sumlin, Sullinger, Rico Gillespie, Mike Bekejla and Anthony Morales kept the Flashes afloat after a 10- deficit.
“I think just intensity from guys coming off the bench and just the will to win,” Avery told Rob Polinsky on the postgame show. “One thing that makes our program special is that regardless of who we’re playing against or what point we are in the game; we continue to believe. So, we had guys coming off the bench that made some plays for us, so it was an effort from everyone.”
“We got a deep group. We got multiple guys who can contribute in many different ways so we gotta continue to get these guys reps, more camaraderie and time playing together but we’ll be alright for sure.”
RETURN OF COACH B: Kent State strength and conditioning coach Henry Briscoe returned home to Louisiana where he played football for the Ragin’ Cajuns back in the day.
TO’s NEGATED BY REBOUNDING: Kent State had turnover issues early, with four by the first media timeout, before finishing with 16 total to just 9 assists. The rebounding advantage of 35-26, including 12 offensive help offset the turnovers. Although Kent State will have to clean up the sloppy turnovers, moving forward.
GET IN THE ZONE: Kent State mixed a 2-2-1 light press back to a 2-3 tandem zone last night and had some success. Last season the Flashes probably played more zone than any other year in Senderoff’s tenure.
LOOKING AHEAD: Kent State hosts Miami Hamilton Friday night in the home opener.
Kent State assistant Jalen Avery was a guest on the postgame show on the radio network.
“Miami Hamilton is a really skilled group 1-5. Everyone that’s on the court can pass, shoot and dribble. They run a bunch of Princeton stuff so we gotta be ready to guard, but they’re a really tough team, really well coached.”
“We have a lot to fix , a lot of things that we could have done better tonight but it’s always better to learn in a win rather than a loss so I’m just glad we are able to come out with a win. We’ll get back to Kent and be able to go through some of this film and fix what we can.”
MAC vs. SUN BELT: The MAC went 4-8 Monday night vs. the Sun Belt with road wins coming from KSU, Central Michigan, Buffalo and Miami.
The travel, which is tough on the teams, with Senderoff calling yesterday one of the longest days in his coaching career, is not ideal. The leagues announced Monday that they have extended this relationship through the 2026-2027 season.