Tuesday night saw utter domination in DeKalb, Ill., as the Kent State men’s basketball team left no questions about who was the better team in a 102-76 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies.
“Tonight was about as close to a complete 40-minute game as we have played all year,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “We competed really hard on both ends of the floor and bounced back from a poor performance against Akron.”
Leading at one point by 36 points, the Flashes beat the Huskies in almost every positive statistical category.
With the win, KSU improves to 22-8 (13-4) and has now finished the regular season road slate at 7-5. Road struggles have been an issue at times this season, including losses to both Central Michigan and Southern Miss, but finishing above .500 is a win.
Tuesday’s win may have been the smoothest KSU looked offensively for a complete game all season, as the Flashes sank 15 3-pointers, almost six higher than their season average of 9.7.
Shooting was the Flashes’ biggest strong point, as they shot over 45% from both the floor and the 3-point stripe. For most of the game, both categories were north of 50% but fell during garbage time.
Early on, the Flashes started 0-for-6 from beyond the arc and seemed to be heading towards another poor shooting performance until junior guard Jahari Williamson caught fire.
Williamson made six 3-pointers on the night in only 21 minutes, good for his career high, and scored 18 points in the process.
“He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference,” Senderoff said. “Tonight he got a lot of good looks, and when he gets them he’s gonna make a lot more than he misses.”
Not only did KSU beat the Huskies in shooting, but they also won the rebound, turnover, assist and block battle.
Defensively, the Flashes held the Huskies to 28 points through the first half but eased up in the later parts of the game as the win was already all but sealed, only winning the second half by three points.
Graduate guard Morgan Safford was out for the matchup against the Huskies, but is expected to be back the next time the Flashes step on the court, Friday.
In Safford’s place, redshirt sophomore guard Rayvon Griifth was given the start. It was not Griffith’s most productive night, as he only scored five points on 25% shooting.
With Safford’s absence as well as a blowout score, minutes were able to be spread out more than usual.
Every starter aside from junior guard Cian Medley notched below 25 minutes on the night. Medley led the team with 29 minutes played and finished with 16 points, including three 3-pointers on 50% shooting.
“It gives other guys an opportunity to compete and make winning plays,” Senderoff said. “All very positive things.”
One player who benefited from this opportunity was redshirt junior guard Brenden Moss. Moss found himself playing 17 minutes, scored five points, and grabbed six rebounds.
Five of KSU’s players finished the night in double figures, including graduate forward Rob Whaley Jr. with 11 points. Whaley Jr. shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and dominated the early portion of the game.
In the first matchup between these two teams earlier this season, the Flashes entered halftime with a 21-point lead only to see it crumble in what would eventually be a four-point home win.
In March’s road rematch, KSU went to the locker room with a 23-point lead, but this time the Flashes held their own in the second half.
“The message is the same as any time you have a big lead,” Senderoff said. “There have been times we have had big leads that we have allowed to get close, but tonight we did a great job.”
With just one game remaining in the 2025-26 season, KSU has officially clinched a regular season in which they never lost back-to-back games.
“We have shown great resilience and been able to move on from disappointing games,” Senderoff said. “We have the ability to move past it, which is very positive.”
WHATS NEXT
Heading back to the M.A.C. Center for the last time this season, the Flashes will look to end the regular season on a high note against the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday.
This matchup will be forward Delrecco Gillespie, Whaley Jr., Safford, and forward Magnus Entenmann’s last ever game played in front of a KSU home crowd as they’ll be honored for senior night.
More importantly, it will be the Flashes’ final opportunity to tune themselves up before the Mid-American Conference tournament starts on the following Thursday.
“I think having a game like this is helpful for everyone,” Senderoff said. “We have not had one in league play to this point.
Josh Szeremet is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
