Mincy scores 27 points in team’s 7th straight win

View photos from last night’s game.

In Jordan Mincy’s nearly four-year career at Kent State, he has rarely – if ever – been seen as a scorer.

Until last night.

The senior guard scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Kent State men’s basketball team to its seventh straight victory, a 64-51 decision over Ohio at the M.A.C. Center.

“My teammates just gave me open looks tonight,” Mincy said. “It was kind of like they just left me wide open a lot of times (last night), and you just had to execute.”

In shattering his previous career high of 15 points – set Nov. 11, 2006, against IUPUI – Mincy had a nearly perfect shooting night. He shot 9-of-10 from the field, draining all five of his 3-point attempts, and making 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.

“That might have been as good a single-game performance that’s been played in this building that I’ve been a part of,” Kent State coach Geno Ford said. “I mean, you shoot 9-for-10 – it was unreal.”

When he was finally lifted from the game, with 46.1 seconds remaining and the Flashes leading 63-48, Mincy received a standing ovation from the 2,987 fans in attendance and a bear hug from teammate Mike McKee.

“I love Kent State’s fans,” Mincy said. “It was kind of heart-taking. I kind of took it to heart. It was kind of a special moment; I’m just thankful (for) Kent State fans and how they come out (and) support us.”

The Flashes (15-11, 8-4 Mid-American Conference) got off to a slow start in the game, falling behind 17-7 midway through the first half.

Then Mincy asserted himself. The senior guard scored the first eight points of a 15-1 run that gave the Flashes a 22-18 lead.

Though Ohio (13-12, 6-6 MAC) rallied to take a 29-25 lead into halftime, Mincy scored 12 points in the first half.

Ohio scored five of the first six points of the second half to take a 34-26 lead with 16:18 remaining, but that would be the Bobcats’ high-water mark.

The Flashes went on a 16-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer and a layup by Mincy, to take a 42-34 lead with 9:51 left to play. Following an Ohio 3-point play, Kent State responded with an 8-1 run to effectively put the game away.

In that second spurt, Mincy hit the shot that defined what kind of night it was for him.

With the Flashes up 46-38, Mincy drove into the lane and was bumped by an Ohio defender. As he lost his balance, Mincy threw up a circus shot.

It went in, and the M.A.C. Center erupted.

“I told (Mincy) after the game I wasn’t sure if it was him or (the New Orleans Hornets’) Chris Paul out there,” Ohio coach John Groce said. “That was unbelievable.”

The win enabled the Flashes to start their second tour of the MAC East on a high note. In their first five divisional games this season, the Flashes went 1-4.

Contact sports editor Doug Gulasy

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