Senior center Cli’Ron Hornbeak had a career-high 18 points, and redshirt sophomore forward Magnus Entenmann tallied a career-high five blocks to shine in the Kent State men’s basketball team’s 98-53 win over the Miami-Hamilton Harriers at the M.A.C. Center Friday night.

“Good way to start the year at home,” coach Rob Senderoff said. “I’m happy that we were able to play in front of our home crowd and play the way we did offensively.”

Eleven players made their way between the four lines tonight for KSU, and all 11 had at least one field goal. 

Hornbeak matched redshirt senior VonCameron Davis for leading scorer at 18 points while senior guard Marquis Barnett (10 points) and senior guard Jalen Sullinger (11 points) were also in double-figure scoring.

“When you have a deep team, everyone has to sacrifice a little bit. The most important thing to think about, especially on a good team, is trying to win,” Senderoff said. “As long as that stays with where our guys’ heads are at, we’ll have a really successful year.”

The Flashes got off to a fast start and led 50-23 at halftime while leading by as many as 30 in the half. Davis scored 11 in the first half on an efficient 5-6 shooting while finishing 8-11 from the floor.

“Von had a great week, and it was a great way to start his senior year,” Senderoff said. “He’s been very focused in practice, and he’s a hard worker. He’s really playing for his teammates, as well.”

Kent State’s early 2-0 start is powered by their unselfishness. Tonight, the team had 24 assists over the Harriers’ nine. 

“Offensively we really shared the basketball, and we’ve been that way every night so far – in our scrimmages and the first two games we played, our guys really tried to help their teammates look as good as they can,” Senderoff said. “We have a lot of unselfish players that played unselfishly tonight.”

Six of those assists came from Sullinger (led team), who is looking to facilitate this season.

“He’s worked on trying to become more of a point guard instead of just a scoring guard,” Senderoff said. “He had a great night in terms of getting guys good looks.”

The three-pointer was also dropping Friday for the Flashes. Their 12 threes was an improvement from their four makes against Louisiana at Lafayette Monday.

The Harriers fell to 2-2 on the season while the Flashes moved to 2-0. They match first-place Buffalo as the only teams in the Mid-American Conference with a 2-0 record.

Physicality and defensive identity

KSU’s physicality and defense were also huge keys in its blowout win.

Kent State had 14 steals in the game, helping the team produce 22 fast-break points. Barnett and graduate student guard Morgan Safford each led the way with three takeaways each.

Despite the Flashes’ barrage of steals, Entenmann’s five blocks was the showcase in the game.

“I’m just flowing and playing as hard as I can,” Entenmann said. “Just doing anything to help the team win.” 

Senderoff and the team have gone through intense practices, and it has helped prepare Entenmann for games like this.

“Cli’Ron, Recco, (junior forward Delrecco Gillespie) and I have been going at it since the summer, so it’s about time we do that to other teams,” Entenmann said. “Day in and day out playing against each other really prepares us for these games.”

Entenmann, who redshirted his freshman year and played in 21 games last year, only recorded one block in those games and averaged one point a night. 

Friday, his seven-point, six-rebound, five-block night was huge for the growth of the team.

“He’s just gotten so much better,” Senderoff said. “Two years ago, he came here as a walk-on and redshirted his first year and put on 30 pounds in the weight room. He did a great job transforming his body, and through more reps, has become more confident.”

Hornbeak shined with his physicality grabbing six offensive boards and only being one rebound short of a double-double. He was also a perfect 6-6 from the field.

“I have to be a big presence in the paint for our team to be really successful,” Hornbeak said. “That’s something I emphasize every game and every night.”

Hornbeak sees an improvement in physicality not only from him, but the entire KSU squad.

“We’re a really physical group of guys,” Hornbeak said. “Last year, we weren’t as physical, but this year, we have all the right pieces.”

Coming out of the break, Hornbeak and the Flashes didn’t let up a bit, as they outscored the Harriers 48-30 in the second half.

“We have a very mature group of guys,” Hornbeak said. “We’re trying to do something big, so we can’t let our mind wander off and stay focused for the full 40 and know we have something bigger to achieve.”

Speaking to the team’s depth, the Flashes have many weapons on their team that are capable of making an impact.

“We have a deep group and on different nights different guys are going to play well,” Senderoff said. “Tonight, Cli’Ron scored the ball very well, and Von was very efficient.”

Senderoff also was impressed by the play of Barnett and newcomer, sophomore guard Cian Medley. He had five points, four assists and one rebound on the night.

“Marquis played well tonight – four assists and three steals, and he showed his athleticism,” Senderoff said. “Cian is a true point guard and really a natural leader and these guys have really responded to how he has played that position.”

The week ahead

The Flashes will look to make it 3-0 this season, as the show continues against the Auburn Tigers on the road Wednesday.

“This is just the start of the year – we started with a really good road win, and then came home and played well here tonight,” Senderoff said. “We have a really big challenge ahead of us playing a top team next week on the road and we have a couple home games before Thanksgiving. We just have to continue to get better.”

Auburn, ranked no. 11 in the NCAA men’s basketball ratings, blew out Vermont 94-43 in its opener.

Although the Tigers are one of the top programs, Hornbeak knows he can leave a big impact.  

 “My physicality on the glass and my physicality against those guys is there,” Hornbeak said. “I’m just as physical and just as big as their guys, so I’m really excited to get out there.”

Ultimately, KSU wants to get better, and the game Wednesday will be a good learning experience.

“It’s a great opportunity for our guys as we get to play in one of the elite programs in the country,” Senderoff said. “No matter what happens down there, it will be very helpful for us as we move forward in conference play.”

Andrew Gold is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].