Kent State men’s basketball team broke a three-game losing streak after defeating Northern Illinois Tuesday 83-76.

The Flashes (9-8, 2-3) needed a win after starting conference play 1-3.

“We certainly needed a win; great to get one on the road, and great to get one the way we did with it being a close game,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “One that we had to make some big plays down the stretch to win.”

In the first half, Kent State raced out to a 20-8 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half. 

The Huskies 6-11, 0-5) then made a run of their own to cut the deficit to 40-35 at the intermission. 

Sophomore guard Reggie Bass scored 17 points, including five three-pointers in the first half to lead Kent State.

“Reggie, in the first half, made some long threes, which really kept us in the game and allowed us to go into halftime with a lead,” Senderoff said.

Northern Illinois would not back down in the second half as they converted on seven three-pointers. 

Kent State continued to battle with the Huskies, scoring 26 points in the paint in the half compared to Northern Illinois’ 16.

Redshirt junior forward VonCameron Davis contributed to the paint points by scoring 23 points off one three-pointer and nine field goals. 

“Von dove on the floor five times,” Senderoff said. “He did the things that an upperclassman who’s a leader who wants to win does.”

Bass tied the Flashes team-high with 23 points, while junior guard Jalen Sullinger added 17. 

Next up, Kent State will head back home to face off against crosstown rival and MAC conference-leading Akron (13-4, 5-0).

“Now we have our rival coming in who’s got a really good team,” Senderoff said. “We just have to take each game in front of us and make sure we prepare as best we can for it.”

Matthew Franos is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].