Flashes men’s basketball falls to Miami in overtime

Stephen Means II|February 24, 2015

Kent State's Chris Ortiz attempts to make a basket but is blocked by the defense during the first half of the game against Miami University on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2014. Ortiz pulled the Flashes ahead during the last 43 seconds of the game with a dunk that brought the score 61-60 securing the win for Kent State.

Kent State’s Chris Ortiz attempts to make a basket but is blocked by the defense during the first half of the game against Miami University on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2014. Ortiz pulled the Flashes ahead during the last 43 seconds of the game with a dunk that brought the score 61-60 securing the win for Kent State.

Kent State (19-9, 10-5 Mid-American Conference) held a 19-point lead with a little less than eight minutes left in the second half, but from there, it was all Miami (12-16, 7-8 MAC).

Miami outscored the Flashes 32-13 in the final seven minutes to tie the game at 77 and send it into halftime. With redshirt sophomore forward Jimmy Hall and senior guard Derek Jackson sidelined due to foul trouble, Miami won 86-81 in overtime.

“This is about as tough a loss as you can experience,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “We just gave up. We played 37 minutes great, and we played seven minutes about as bad a we can play in every facet of the game.”

Prior to fouling out late in the second half, Hall looked to be back to his old self, scoring 24 points on shooting 9-for-15 from the field. Hall scored 15 of his 24 in the first half. Jackson fouled out in the in overtime.

“It hurt us not having them out there,” Senderoff said. “Some of those fouls that happen 90 feet from the basket hurt us.”

The RedHawks were 33-of-44 from the free throw line.

Senior guards Devareaux Manley and Kris Brewer added 14 points for Kent State. Manley hit four three-pointers to put his season total at 92. Manley now holds Kent State record for most three-pointers in a single season. He needs 32 more to tie former Flash Randal Holt for career three-pointers made.

Junior forward Chris Ortiz added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Junior guard Eric Washington led Miami with 24 points. Senior guard Will Sullivan added 16 points, and junior guard Geovonie McKnight had 14 points.

This loss puts the Flashes in a two-way tie for first place in the MAC East with Bowling Green (18-8, 10-5 MAC).

The Flashes take on Buffalo (18-9, 9-6 MAC) at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday. Kent State lost to the Bulls on the road 80-55 in their first meeting. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Contact Stephen Means II at [email protected].