The Kent State Golden Flashes secured a 95-91 victory over the Eastern Michigan Eagles, with Morgan Safford leading the way with 23 points. The win improves Kent State's record to 18-7, while Eastern Michigan falls to 9-16. The Golden Flashes' 95 points were fueled by a 55-point second-half performance, which included 15 points from Delrecco Gillespie and 15 points from Jahari Williamson. Eastern Michigan's Addison Patterson put up an impressive 32 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Golden Flashes' balanced attack.
Morgan Safford and Addison Patterson Combine for 55 Points on 21-37 Shooting
The Eastern Michigan Eagles came out strong, taking a 47-40 lead into halftime. However, the Kent State Golden Flashes regrouped and outscored Eastern Michigan 55-44 in the second half to secure the win. The Golden Flashes' 55 second-half points were the result of a 52.6% field goal percentage, including 6 three-pointers. Delrecco Gillespie's 12 rebounds helped Kent State win the rebounding battle 38-35, which proved crucial in the 4-point victory. The game saw 11 lead changes and 7 ties, with the Golden Flashes ultimately emerging victorious. Eastern Michigan's Mohammad Habhab added 22 points and 9 rebounds, but the Eagles' 16 turnovers hindered their chances of pulling off the upset.
Morgan Safford and Addison Patterson stole the show, combining for 55 points. Safford's 23 points led the Kent State Golden Flashes, while Patterson's 32 points paced the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Delrecco Gillespie chipped in with 15 points and 12 rebounds for Kent State, and Jahari Williamson added 15 points. For Eastern Michigan, Mohammad Habhab posted 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Braelon Green contributed 15 points. The top performers' stat lines were impressive, with Safford shooting 9-15 from the field and Patterson making 12-22 field goals.
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Final
The Kent State Golden Flashes shot 49.2% from the field, including 9-24 from three-point range. The Eastern Michigan Eagles shot 45.5% from the field, including 10-26 from beyond the arc. The Golden Flashes outrebounded the Eagles 38-35, which helped them secure the 4-point win. Kent State also committed 13 turnovers, while Eastern Michigan had 16. The game saw 186 total points, with the Golden Flashes averaging 1.23 points per possession. The Eagles' 1.17 points per possession were not enough to overcome Kent State's balanced attack.
The CHD Scout predicted a Kent State win by 6.2 points, which was close to the actual 4-point margin. The predicted score was 80-74, but both teams exceeded those expectations with a combined 186 points. The model correctly identified Kent State as the winner, but underestimated the high-scoring nature of the game. The Golden Flashes' 95 points were 15 more than the predicted total, while Eastern Michigan's 91 points were 17 more than expected. The model's accuracy in predicting the winner is a reflection of its ability to analyze team performance.
The win improves Kent State's record to 18-7, with a NET ranking of 144. The loss drops Eastern Michigan to 9-16, with a NET ranking of 212. This game was a Quadrant 4 game for Kent State and a Quadrant 3 game for Eastern Michigan. The Golden Flashes' win helps solidify their tournament resume, while the Eagles' loss hurts their chances of making a late-season push. Kent State's 18-7 record includes a 10-3 mark in their last 13 games, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure. Eastern Michigan's 9-16 record is a reflection of their struggles, with a 3-10 mark in their last 13 games.
The Kent State Golden Flashes want to build on their momentum when they face their next opponent, while the Eastern Michigan Eagles will try to bounce back from the tough loss. The Golden Flashes' next game is scheduled for February 15, and they want to improve their 18-7 record. The Eagles' next game is also on February 15, and they will try to snap their current skid.