| Kent’s Randal Holt (left) makes his move against BG’s A’uston Calhoun. (Photo: Matt Hafley/Daily Kent Stater) |
KENT — The 2-3 zone defense has been the staple of Bowling Green’s success during its recent streak of
five wins in six games.
However, Kent State had the answer for the zone Tuesday night as the Golden Flashes sliced and diced the
Falcons inside on the way to an 80-63 victory.
“You have to play the game on your terms and we didn’t do that,” BG head coach Louis Orr said. “We played
the game outside-in … and we didn’t attack the game from the paint.”
Kent State’s two starting big men — Justin Greene and Justin Manns — combined for 27 points, 12 rebounds
and four assists.
The Golden Flashes were able to make two or three passes and score on a variety of dunks, layups and
short jumpers. A total of 40 of Kent State’s 80 points came in the paint.
“The post-to-post passing worked out,” Greene said. “The last few practices we worked on our zone
offense. They are a pretty good team and they play a good zone.
“We found a lot of ways to get assists, move the ball and get good shots.”
The Golden Flashes used point-guard Mike Porrini in the middle of the zone near the free-throw line and
he was able to get Kent State’s offense going.
“We got the ball to Mike Porrini, who made good decisions in the middle of the zone,” Kent State head
coach Geno Ford said.
Kent State had 21 assists on 28 field goals with Porrini having a game-high eight helpers.
BG’s Scott Thomas said the Falcons got out of position on defense and were not able to adjust in the
first half. He said BG played better defense in the second half.
“We knew Justin Greene would get in there and make some plays for himself and his teammates,” Thomas
said. “Our slides weren’t right and they took advantage of it.”
The fact that Bowling Green shot only six free throws in the game, proved to Orr that the Falcons weren’t
rugged enough around the basket. BG had shot 20 or more free throws in each of the three previous games,
all wins.
“I don’t necessarily blame us for not getting the ball inside,” Orr said. “I thought when we did get it
inside, we didn’t take care of business like we needed to.”
The game was close at the start, but Bowling Green’s 12 first-half turnovers, combined with Kent State’s
success inside allowed the Golden Flashes to pull away to a 40-23 halftime lead.
“We didn’t make the game easy for ourselves,” Orr said. “Give Kent State credit they beat us to every
loose ball in the first half … We didn’t match their intensity as far as getting loose balls and
making hustle plays.
“We put ourselves in a hole with basically having bad defense and bad offense. That’s a bad combination.”
Some accurate 3-point shooting allowed the Falcons to get back into the game in the second half.
“A couple of guys made a couple of shots and that kind of got it rolling,” Thomas said about BG’s
3-pointers. BG was 7-of-13 on 3-pointers in the second half, with four different players making at least
one three.
BG was able to cut the lead to 10, 58-48, with 8:45 left in the game. Kent State then stopped the
bleeding and regained control of the game.
“We didn’t quit. We got eight or nine stops and got it to 10 from a 24, 25-point deficit, but then we
turned around and they scored five possessions in a row,” Orr said.
A’uston Calhoun came off the bench to score 17 points and add nine rebounds for the Falcons. Dee Brown
added 14 points, Thomas had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists and Jordon Crawford added 10
points and four assists.
NOTES: BG is now 6-10 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference and Kent State is 10-6, 1-1 …
KSU’s Manns played two years at Owens Community College … Calhoun has now scored 107 points in the
last seven games … All five KSU starters scored in double figures … With 7:46 remaining in the game
BG held a 31-23 rebounding edge. However, KSU finished the game with 34 rebounds to 33 for BG …
Bowling Green hosts Miami Sunday at 2 p.m.
KENT ST. 80, BOWLING GREEN 63
BOWLING GREEN (6-10)
Thomas 4-13 1-2 11, McElroy 1-4 0-0 2, Black 0-2 4-4 4,
Jakubowski 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 6-10 0-0 14, Crawford 4-7 0-0 10,
Kraus 1-5 0-0 3, Calhoun 8-17 0-0 17, Oglesby 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-61 5-6 63.
KENT ST. (10-6)
Greene 7-11 3-4 17, Manns 4-6 2-3 10, Porrini 7-10 7-9 21,
Holt 3-10 2-2 11, Sherman 3-8 4-4 12, Gaines 1-4 0-1 2,
Henniger 2-2 0-0 4, Nealy 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0,
Leonard 1-3 0-1 2, Wilds 0-0 1-2 1, Frank 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-54 19-26 80.
Halftime—Kent St. 40-23. 3-Point Goals—Bowling Green 8-20 (Brown
2-3, Crawford 2-4, Thomas 2-5, Kraus 1-3, Calhoun 1-4, Jakubowski 0-1),
Kent St. 5-14 (Holt 3-7, Sherman 2-5, Leonard 0-1, Porrini 0-1). Fouled
Out—Oglesby. Rebounds—Bowling Green 33 (Thomas 8), Kent St. 34 (Manns
9). Assists—Bowling Green 14 (Crawford, Thomas 4), Kent St. 21 (Porrini
8). Total Fouls—Bowling Green 20, Kent St. 8. A—2,543.
