Men’s basketball secures MAC championship defeating Toledo

The Kent State men’s basketball team defeated Toledo 93-78 to win its seventh Mid-American Conference championship.

This is coach Rob Senderoff’s second championship. The last MAC title for Kent State was in 2017.

In the team’s previous matchup this season on Jan. 10, the Flashes defeated the Rockets 75-63.

Kent State came into the game as the No. 1 scoring defense in the MAC (65.3), and Toledo was the conference’s highest-scoring team at 85.8 points per game.

The Flashes were led by redshirt senior guard Sincere Carry who scored 26 points, redshirt senior guard Malique Jacobs who totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds and senior forward Chris Payton who recorded 17 points.

KSU had five players score 10 or more points.

Kent State shot 55.7% from the field and 10-of-24 from behind the arc. The Rockets shot 42.4% from the field and 7-of-27 from behind the arc.

Kent State’s bench outscored the Rockets 29-2.

With the MAC championship, Kent State will clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament beginning Thursday.

Jacob Shondel is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].