Guard records 14 points in road win

Junior guard Rodriquez Sherman’s all-around effort led to the Kent State men’s basketball team’s victory over Morehead State yesterday, 63-57.

Sherman recorded a double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

He is averaging just more than 14 points per game this season and has scored 10 or more points every game this season, except the season-opener against Samford when he scored nine.

Senior forward Anthony Simpson also had a career high with 17 points, while adding eight rebounds.

“Anthony is the X factor for us,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “When Anthony plays well, we can be pretty good. When Anthony struggles, we’re not. He gives us a dynamic athlete, a big guy who can shoot perimeter jumpers and post up”

Simpson tied his career high of 16 points with 7:15 left in regulation to tie the game at 50-50. Sophomore forward Justin Greene hit one of two free throws to give Kent State (5-2) the lead at 51-50.

Morehead State (1-3) led by as many as nine points in the second half before Kent State took the lead.

Eagles’ sophomore guard Terrence Hill hit a 3-pointer to retake the lead, 53-51, but Sherman answered with two foul shots to tie the game again.

Two big defensive stops by Kent State with less than two minutes left gave the team the edge it needed to halt Morehead State’s offense.

“Stops down the stretch were huge,” senior guard Mike McKee said. “When we got two straight steals, Rod got his hands and the ball both times. Those were two huge possessions.”

Greene, who had 10 points and five rebounds, made a shot while being fouled and then connected on the free throw to increase the lead to 61-55, but Morehead State didn’t go away as sophomore forward Steve Peterson hit a shot taking the game within four at 61-57.

The Eagles’ defense pressured the Flashes with a full-court defense and started fouling. Kent State only went 2-for-6 from the foul line from that point, but it was enough to win the game.

The Flashes were tied at 30-30 out of halftime and struggled shooting to start the half.

The Flashes shot 1-for-11 to start the second half giving the Bulls an opportunity to take a big lead, but the lead wouldn’t stick.

Prior to yesterday’s game against Morehead State, Kent State traveled to face South Florida on Wednesday.

Kent State lost 76-54, with the Flashes fading fast as South Florida went on a 19-0 run after Greene scored on Kent State’s first two possessions. The Bulls led 41-20 going into halftime.

Following back-to-back 3-pointers from McKee, Kent State managed to bring the deficit to 17 points, the closest the Flashes would get to the Bulls in the second half.

Greene led the team for the second time this season with 13 points, and Sherman, who was the only other Kent State player in double-digits, scored 11 points.

Kent State continues its road trip when it travels to Cincinnati to face Xavier Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Contact sports reporter Cody Erbacher at [email protected].