The Kent State Golden Flashes secured a 75-68 victory over the Ball State Cardinals, led by Delrecco Gillespie's impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds. This win improves Kent State's record to 19-7, with a NET ranking of 144. Ball State, on the other hand, falls to 8-17, with a NET ranking of 320. The 7-point margin of victory was close to the predicted 8.8-point margin by the CHD Scout, which correctly forecasted a Kent State win.
Delrecco Gillespie's 14 Rebounds Were a Season High
The Kent State Golden Flashes dominated the first half, scoring 40 points to Ball State's 31. Delrecco Gillespie was a key factor in this half, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. The Ball State Cardinals attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, scoring 37 points, but Kent State's 35 points were enough to secure the win. The game saw a total of 143 points scored, with Kent State shooting 45.5% from the field and Ball State shooting 41.9%. The Cardinals' Davion Hill had a notable performance, scoring 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the strong play of Gillespie and the Kent State Golden Flashes.
The top performers for both teams were impressive, with Delrecco Gillespie leading the way for Kent State with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Rob Whaley Jr. and Morgan Safford also had notable games for the Golden Flashes, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively. For Ball State, Davion Hill scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Devon Barnes added 14 points. Kayden Fish contributed 8 points for the Cardinals, but the team ultimately fell short. The combined 43 points from Gillespie and Hill were a key factor in the game's outcome, with Gillespie's double-double proving to be the decisive factor.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The box score reveals some interesting statistics from the game. Kent State outrebounded Ball State 38-32, with Gillespie's 14 rebounds leading the way. The Golden Flashes also shot 45.5% from the field, compared to Ball State's 41.9%. The Cardinals had 12 turnovers, while Kent State had 15. The free throw line was also a key factor, with Kent State shooting 70% and Ball State shooting 64.3%. The 75 points scored by Kent State were the most they have scored in their last 5 games, and the 68 points allowed were the fewest they have allowed in their last 3 games.
The CHD Scout predicted a Kent State win by 8.8 points, which was close to the actual 7-point margin of victory. This prediction was correct, with the scout accurately forecasting the outcome of the game. The predicted score was 71-80, which was slightly off from the actual 75-68 score. However, the scout's prediction of a Kent State win was spot on, and their predicted margin of victory was close to the actual result. The scout's analysis of the game's key factors, such as Gillespie's performance and the rebounding margin, was also accurate.
This win improves Kent State's record to 19-7, with a NET ranking of 144. The game was a Quadrant 4 game for Kent State, but a Quadrant 3 game for Ball State. The loss drops Ball State's record to 8-17, with a NET ranking of 320. The Cardinals' Quadrant 3 loss will likely have a negative impact on their tournament resume, while Kent State's Quadrant 4 win will have a minimal impact on their resume. However, the win does keep Kent State in contention for a tournament bid, and their NET ranking of 144 is still within striking distance of the top 100.
The Kent State Golden Flashes want to build on this win as they face their next opponent, while the Ball State Cardinals will attempt to bounce back from this loss. Kent State's next game is scheduled for February 17th against the Toledo Rockets, while Ball State's next game is scheduled for February 18th against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Both teams want to improve their records and tournament resumes in these upcoming games.