by Our 2022 MAC Tournament Coverage is brought to you by
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The 7th seed Miami RedHawks put up the first four points of the game against the 2nd seed Kent State Golden Flashes. Sincere Carry then hit a three-point shot as he blew a kiss to the Kent State faithful.
This wouldn’t stop the RedHawks from improving their lead making it a score of 7-3 early in the first. Andrew Garcia for the Golden Flashes would hit a three to make the score 7-6, he would attempt another right after but failed to convert.
This game would have a similar first half to the first two games, fast paced nonstop action, both teams going back and forth as they try to get a feel for the NBA rims most of these young men never shot on before.
Kent State would grab the lead up 21-16, but this wouldn’t keep the RedHawks away as they would continue to fight the flashes as they saw the Flashes starting to separate themselves.
Kent State would extend their lead by 12 as Malique Jacobs throws down a dunk in transition. The Three-point ball would be kind to the flashes in the first half. Carry, Jacobs, Garcia, Santiago, and Beck combined for seven threes in the first half, this would make up 21 of the Flashes 41 points at the end of the half.
Miami fought back at the end of the half as they pulled it within just nine points. Miami had an attack that was spread that wasn’t dependent on one player. Kamari Williams was the lead scorer for the RedHawks with nine points.
Kent State also had a well-balanced attack but was led by Farrell, PA native and MAC conference player of the year with 10 points. Carry would go 4-9 from the field and 2-6 from the three-point line.
Kent State would come out of the tunnel hot, a fancy post move by Andrew Garcia and a and one lay up by Malique Jacobs would the Flashes off to a quick start.
Kent State would create more separation as Miami would struggle to get a run going in their favor. Anytime they seem to get something going, the Flashes move the momentum back in their favor.
With just under 10 minutes left I the game the Golden Flashes lead the RedHawks 62-48, the spread attack from the Flashes seems to be overwhelming against the RedHawks defense.
Elijah McNamara and Dae Dae Grant who combine for 28 points are trying to will the RedHawks back in the game with just about six minutes left down by 15.
4 minutes later the RedHawks were able to pull within 10 points, Carry would then hit two free throws to extend the lead back out to 12 as the RedHawks have under two minutes to make something happen.
Mekhi Lairy hit a three from distance to make it a nine-point game. Free throws from Carry would bring it back out to 10. The lead would bounce back and forth as it would go to eight just to bounce right back to 10 thanks to free throws from Tervell Beck.
With the lead shrunk down to 8 Precious Ayah would look to make it a 6-point game and that’s exactly what he would do. With 22 seconds left Giovanni Santiago would go to the line with a chance to ice the game with two free throws. He would sink the first and the second would follow. Kent State would walk out of this game alive with a score of 85-75.
Precious Ayah is the player of the day for Miami as he fought hard to earn 16 points off 7-8 shooting and eight rebounds for the loss.
Malique Jacobs and Sincere Carry will share player of the game honors for Kent State. Jacobs scored 15 points off 4-9 shooting with 11 rebounds. Carry would have 15 points off 5-15 shooting and eight assists.
Kent State is watching and waiting to see who they play tomorrow; they will face the winner of the 3rd seed Ohio and the sixth seed Ball State.
