by It was senior night for the 2023 Golden Flashes and they were up by three against their rival and defending MAC champions, Akron. Kent State senior star Malique Jacobs fouled an Akron three-point shot. With Akron making all three free throws and a desperation buzzer-beater attempt missed by Sincere Carry, the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Kent State’s head coach Rob Senderoff received a technical foul, and Akron could shoot two more free throws, making both. A three-point lead for Kent State became a two-point deficit in overtime, and without Jacobs.
In overtime, Carry took over and finished the game with 35 points in the 89-84 win for the Flashes in the regular season finale. Carry was not alone in this win. Bench player Chris Payton came up big for Kent State finishing 22 points in the win, with multiple big dunks and and-ones that got the sold-out Kent State crowd going. Kent State extended the home winning streak to 22 wins in a row in the M.A.C center.
Before the game started Kent State was favored by 4.5 and heading into over-time Kent State became a two-point underdog.
Akron Zips’ best player of the night was Sammy Hunter finishing with 26 points in the overtime effort, and Enrique Freeman finished with 25 points for the Zips’. The season series has been split between the two teams.
Next Thursday the MAC tournament will begin with the top three seeds being Toledo, Kent State, and Akron. Kent State will open the tournament against Northern Illinois on Thursday, and with a win and an Akron win there will be a third matchup of the year, and this time it will be in the semifinals, with the winner going back to the championship game, with Akron looking to repeat and Kent State trying to avenge how last season ended for them in Cleveland.
Coach Senderoff said he is excited by the possibility of rematching with Akron because that means they will be playing on Friday, making them a part of the final four of the MAC teams.
Last season Kent State lost to Akron in the championship game with multiple players being suspended in the first half. Coach Senderoff said that they will start preparing for the tournament tomorrow with treatment for the players.
