The Kent State men’s basketball team won its eighth-straight game in dominating fashion.  

Kent State beat first place Ohio University 75-52.

The Flashes improve to 17-9 on the year and 12-4 in the Mid-American Conference, and they are in third place. The Bobcats (13-3 MAC, 22-5 overall) remain in first place. 

“Obviously a great win for us,” head coach Rob Senderoff said. “The first half was probably the best half of basketball on both ends of the floor in my 11 years here.”

It was absolute domination in the first half for the Flashes, as they took a 30-point lead. 

KSU’s first half score looked more like a football score as the team led 45-15 going into the locker rooms. 

Kent State went on a 16-2 run to start the game and it didn’t stop there. 

The Flashes couldn’t seem to miss from the three point line shooting 70 percent (7-10) and also shot 55 percent (16-29) on field goals.

“It was awesome, we shot 55 percent, 10 assists in the first half, and 7-10 from three,” Senderoff said. “We played really well, really hard, played for each other, which is all you can ask for.”

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, KSU shutdown Ohio. The Bobcats only made two field goals the entire first half, shooting 8 percent (2-25) and went 0-15 from three point range. 

Eight different Flashes had scored in the first half, with the team recording 10 assists. 

Kent State did not let up in the second half. 

The Flashes didn’t quite have the same three point success as they did in the first half, however the constant defensive pressure allowed Kent State to earn the victory. 

“They did chip at the lead a little bit,” Senderoff said. “It never really got too tight, because I think we kept playing the right way.”

The Flashes held the Bobcats to 37 percent (10-27) shooting and 38 percent (5-13) from behind the arc in the second half. 

Redshirt junior Malique Jacobs tied the team high in points with 14, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Alongside Jacobs was redshirt sophomore Giovanni Santigo, who had 14 points, two rebounds, an assist and two steals. 

Redshirt junior Sincere Carry added 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal. 

“I’m gonna enjoy tonight, I’m not gonna act like I’m not going to enjoy tonight,” Senderoff said. ”I’m gonna start thinking about Tuesday and what can we do to get people here Tuesday.” 

The Flashes will look to make it nine-straight wins when the team takes on Ball State (6-8, 11-14), which is in sixth place, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the M.A.C.C. 

Jacob Hansen is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].