by It was a Friday night regular season finale of MACtion. This edition came from Kent, Ohio where the Kent State Golden Flashes hosted the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
The Golden Flashes came in with an overall record of 20-10 and a conference record of 10-7. While the Eagles came in at 9-8 in the conference, and an overall record of 16-14. The two teams were separated by just one game each with plenty of seeding on the line for the MAC tournament.
With it being Senior night, it would be pretty fitting that Kent State was led by their seniors. Jalen Sullinger led the way with 18 points and 4 rebounds. VonCameron Davis followed with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. While Marquis Barnett finished with 10 points, 3 steals, and 2 assists.
The 76-70 win would officially clinch Kent State the third seed in the MAC tournament thanks to an Ohio loss to Toledo on Friday night as well.
Eastern Michigan was led by junior guard Christian Henry who finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Senior Jalin Billingsley followed with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
The game itself started off with Sullinger scoring Kent State’s 9 of their first 13 points. As the Golden Flashes started off on a hot 13-7 run by the first media timeout of the half.
The hot start for Kent State would continue getting their lead up to 20-9 by time the second media timeout rolled around. The Golden Flashes were shooting 66% from the floor, including 4-for-5 from three.
Eastern Michigan would slowly work their way back in the game with a 7-3 run across the next four minutes. The Eagles would find themselves trailing just 16-23 with 7:53 left in the first half.
The Eagles were not done quite yet either. As they would proceed to go on a 10-3 run forcing Kent State to use their first timeout of the game after tying the game up at 26.
It was safe to say that Rob Senderoff and the Golden Flashes were not ready for the Eagles 17-6 run in total.
Eastern Michigan would get their lead up to as many as eight with a 34-26 lead. But the Golden Flashes would close out the first half strong.
By time halftime rolled around, Eastern Michigan was up just five at 36-31. After Kent State’s very hot start, they would end up shooting just 39% in the first half as they missed their final seven three point attempts as well.
The Eagles got a boost from their bench in the first half with 17 points, also giving them the energy they needed for the big run to end the first half.
Things got even harder for Kent State to begin the second half. Eastern Michigan started off the second half on a 9-4 run, hitting 8-% of their shots. While their stingy defense was holding Kent State to 25% to start off the second half.
The Golden Flashes looked frazzled at home for the first time in well over a month. As they were trailing 35-46 with 15:50 left to play.
The second half shooting for the Eagles were going in at an exponential rate at 69%. The Eagles began to dominate inside the paint, and rebounding. As it seemed like Kent State could do nothing about it as they were even struggling to get their own shots to fall.
At the under-12 media timeout of the second half, Eastern Michigan held a 57-43 lead. It was eerily quiet throughout the M.A.C.C. Center as Kent State fans knew they were in trouble with not much time left.
But things for the Golden Flashes were not over just yet. As they would proceed to go on a 11-0 run, getting exactly what they needed to get back in the game. With 7:27 left to play, Kent State trailed just 54-57.
The Golden Flashes found a way to tie the game up at 59. But by time the final media timeout of the game rolled around, Eastern Michigan was back up 67-63. With just 3:53 left to play, the margin for error was very small for both sides
A big three by sophomore Cian Medley would give Kent State a 68-67 lead with 3:09 left to play and the crowd was buzzing.
The Golden Flashes would end the game on a 8-3 run giving them a narrow 76-70 win over the Eagles.
The win helped improved Kent State to a record of 21-10 and 11-7 in the conference. While the loss dropped Eastern Michigan to a record of 16-15, and 9-9 in the conference finishing as the 7th seed for the MAC tournament.
