Flashes earn a victory against Bowling Green

Cody Erbacher

Kent State needed that win.

The Flashes entered last night’s game against Bowling Green with a three-game losing streak and a sense of urgency to get back on track.

With the help of double-digit point totals from the Flashes’ starting five, Kent State coasted to an 80-63 win over Bowling Green.

It snapped a losing streak that left Kent State looking for a way to get a win.

It cleared some of the doubt surrounding the Flashes, who have been struggling with inexperience the entire season.

And, most important, it gave the Flashes a win before starting a stretch where the team will play four road matches in five games.

There was no better time for Bowling Green to come to the M.A.C. Center than last night.

Kent State had a losing streak that everybody on the roster, except for senior guard Rod Sherman and junior forward Justin Greene, have experienced. After a tough out-of-conference schedule, conference rival Akron beat the Flashes to start the Mid-American Conference.

The win may have been what the Flashes needed to regain confidence.

Kent State took the lead a little over four minutes into the game. With constant defensive pressure on the Falcons’ offense mixed with an offensive strike that shot 51.9 percent on the game, Kent State led by double digits for nearly three-fourths of the game.

It was Kent State’s game to either win or lose.

Thanks to Kent State’s starting five, (Greene, senior center Justin Manns, junior guard Michael Porrini, sophomore guard Randal Holt and Sherman), the Flashes proved to the home crowd of 2,543 that they could run away with any game if they play together.

A large part of the team chemistry though should be attributed to the unselfishness of the roster. The five starters recorded 19 assists.

But the win doesn’t erase all doubt from the Kent State team that looked like a disaster against Akron in the conference season opener.

To say the Flashes struggle with winning on the road is an understatement. In the five road games this season, Kent State has yet to win.

Kent State proved it could snap back from a losing streak, but now the task for the 10-6 Flashes is to prove they can win on an opponent’s court.

Contact Cody Erbacher at [email protected].