The Kent State men’s basketball team fell short of reaching the Mid-American Conference championship game for the first time in four years after falling to Miami (25-8, 14-4) 72-64.

The game started off with a lack of points, as neither team scored in the first two minutes.

Senior guard Jalen Sullinger scored the team’s first nine points. With a 13-10 lead just over seven minutes into the game, Sullinger had 11 of the team’s 13 points.

Senior forward VonCameron Davis made four of his 17 shots from the field.

The Flashes held a one-point lead at halftime, and after an intense back-and-forth second half, the RedHawks scored the game’s final seven points to seal the victory.

Kent State shot just 37.9% from the field and made only 11 of its 21 free throws.

Sullinger finished with 29 points while senior guard Marquis Barnett was the team’s second-leading scorer with 11 points.

Kent State lost to Miami all three times the teams played each other this season.

With the loss to Miami, Kent State will not participate in the NCAA’s March Madness bracket, and the 2024-25 season has come to an end in Cleveland for both men’s and women’s basketball on the same day.

Demetri Manousos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].