KENT - The reason was simple enough, Allen Hester said. It wasn't that Ohio's shots weren't falling, or that Kent State was making tough 3-pointers, but no matter what they did, the Bobcats couldn't get defensive stops when they needed it most.
After getting off to a slow start, Ohio pulled to within two midway through the second half but missed on their next four field goal attempts as the Golden Flashes went on a 9-1 run that proved to be the turning point in Ohio's 72-62 loss Saturday.It was very frustrating to get a game that close
said Hester, who broke out with 12 points in the second half. And when it's a game you want so bad and is needed it's real frustrating when you get a stop and you can't produce on your end then when you can produce on your end and you can't get a stop
The Bobcats (16-9, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) have now lost three of their last four - with the sole victory being the only game in that stretch they played at home. The win also cements the Golden Flashes' (21-5, 10-2 MAC) position at the top of the MAC East, as Ohio falls to third after Akron's win over Bowling Green.
With six different players hitting at least one 3-pointer, Kent State was able stretch Ohio's defense so that it gave up some open looks inside.
I thought they were on top of their game coach Tim O'Shea said. Late in the shot clock they made some tough 3s. We had a couple trap situations where they found open people under the basket for dunks.
Ohio didn't do itself any favors early on as its shots struggled to fall, allowing Kent State to jump out to a 7-0 lead. The Bobcats were unable to haul in a single offensive rebound in the first half and their five starters struggled to find the basket, combining for just nine points before the half.
The key to keeping Ohio in the game through its first half struggles was guard Bubba Walther, who continued his strong play off the bench. Walther had 16 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, in the first half. But the Golden Flashes eliminated much of the threat Ohio's 3-point sniper posed in the second half, as Walther added only six more points.
Early on we had good shots they just didn't go in and that's a tough situation to have on the road O'Shea said. But we fought back and I thought we made it a competitive game. We won one. They won one. And from our standpoint we hope there's a game three.
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Katie Carrera
