Fast Start Leads Kent State To 68-43 Win Over Hampton

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications

HAMPTON, VA — Kent State used a 14-0 run to start the game on the way to a 68-43 win over host Hampton University tonight at the Hampton Convocation Center. The Golden Flashes improved to 7-6 with their fourth win in the last five games after holding the Pirates (6-7) scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game.

Playing in his home state, junior Tyree Evans (Richmond, VA/Motlow C.C. (Tenn.) scored six points during the opening run and finished the game with a team high 21 points, including five three pointers Junior guard Chris Singletary (Chicago, IL/Florida Prep.) added 11 points while handing out five assists. Singletary now has 24 assists in his last four games. “I was very amped up for the game and I was excited that my family came out and supported me” said Evans. “It was a good game for Kent State basketball. We talked on defense and let the offense take care of itself.”

Behind the 14-0 start Kent State took a 35-18 halftime lead by forcing the Pirates into 13 turnovers. The Golden Flashes started the second half with a 14-4 run as they built up a 27-point cushion and never looked back. Evans, who is shooting 53.8 percent (14-26) from three this season hit two three-pointers during the stretch.

Senior Julian Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Fork Union Military Academy (VA)), scored 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers for Kent State which shot 48.2 percent from the field. Hampton connected on just 23.2 percent for the game. “We played solid defense, but it was a tough shooting night for them,” said Head Coach Geno Ford, “It was nice to get the win, but our defense look a lot better because they missed some open shots.”

Kent State travels to Temple on Monday. Hampton travels to Bethune Cookman on January 10th for a 4 p.m. contest.

Saturday: Kent State at Hampton Pirates

Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications

Complete Notes in .pdf

The Game
Kent State (6-6) rings in the new year with games at Hampton on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and at Temple on Monday. The Golden Flashes are beginning a three game road swing looking for their first win away from home since a Nov. 19 overtime victory over Saint Louis.

Coming off a 93-42 win over Shawnee State on Tuesday, Kent State has won three of the last four. Six players reached double figures in the game for KSU led by 2008 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Al Fisher with 16 points. Fisher, who played just 22 minutes for the game, tied a career high with four three-pointers - all coming in the first half. The Golden Flashes well balanced offense was fueled by a season high 30 assists - including seven from senior Jordan Mincy - on 36 made field goals. In the his first start of his KSU career, junior guard Tyree Evans scored 12 points and is now averaging 15.0 points and 2.0 steals in his three games Evans is also shooting 50.0 percent (9-18) from three. Freshman Justin Greene led the team with a career best eight rebounds in just 15 minutes of action.

Hampton (6-6) is coming off a 58-56 win over Yale on Tuesday. Led by a season high 21 points from Christopher Tolsen the Pirates snapped a three game losing streak with the win. Tolsen is averaging 19.5 ppg in the last two games, while Vincent Simpson leads the squad with 10.0 ppg this season.

Series Notes
• Kent State leads the series 1-0. The Golden Flashes won the only other meeting 77-71 last season at the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State is 4-2 all-time against the MEAC after wins against Hampton and Coppin State last season.
• This is just the third game in Kent State history in the state of Virginia (George Mason, 2007; James Madison, 1987).

TV/Radio WNIR 100.1 FM (Tom Linder)

Next Up For Kent State
Kent State heads up east coast for a game at Temple on Monday.

Pdf. Game 13 - at Hampton (1/3/09)