MAC Basketball Tournament - #1 Kent State vs #8 Toledo
VanDelay Sports is sitting on press row for the MAC Basketball Tournament this week, so since it’s Thursday and most people are stuck in work we’ll be running live diaries during the games. We’ll be updating this at most of the media time outs. Hopefully this will be somewhat entertaining and informative for those who care.
Pregame - Toledo can’t shoot 1-17 from 3 again in this game (can they?), but I still don’t have a lot of faith in this being a very close game, even though the Rockets took it to Kent in Toledo this year. Kent State is a really good team and Jim Christian has shown that he can get his team to kick it into another gear at the Q. I expect Mike Scott and Haminn Quaintance to have their way with Toledo’s undersized front line and to get a bunch of high percentage shots. Toledo’s chances rely on their defense. Al Fisher can be turnover prone, so maybe there’s a chance that UT can turn up the heat and capitalize on turnovers.
15:54 - Quick start for both teams as they’ve traded a couple of 3’s and inside shots and are tied at 7. The Q is getting loud. Akron already advanced earlier. If Kent and Ohio advance tonight we could set an attendance record this weekend.
12:38 - Kent on an 11-2 run. Singletary gets a wide open layup and Joplin takes a TO. Kent up 18-9.
10:13 - Tyrone Kent knocks down a couple of 3’s, though the Golden Flashes answer one of them. KSU still leads 21-15.
7:18 - 25-19 Kent lead. Toledo certainly looks a lot better than they did against BG last night, plus they’ve been hitting some open shots, which helps. Mike Scott with 9 early points, though a lot of those have come from the perimeter, not on the inside like you’d think.
3:47 - Mike Scott is Superman. Anthony Byrd was positioned perfectly between Scott and the rim, but it didn’t matter as Scott lept over Byrd and threw one down, getting fouled in the process. You’re gonna see that play on Sportscenter’s Top 10 tonight. Kent State up 30-26.
3:05 - The refs can’t make up their mind if they want to call a player control or a block so they call a double foul instead. 3rd foul on Tyrone Kent. Not good for Toledo, 34-29 Kent’s lead… Offensive foul on Amos on the next UT possession. 3rd on Amos.
1:29 - Kent player takes a flop under the hoop and a completely awful offensive foul call on Toledo. 36-29 Kent leads.
Halftime - Superman Scott throws down an alleyoop on a fastbreak with about 30 seconds left and Toledo continues to self-destruct with offensive fouls. Then with 0.3 seconds left Jonathan Amos crazily contests a 3 pointer by Jordan Mincy, fouls him for his 4th, but Mincy goes on to miss all 3 free-throws. I’m not gonna say that the refs are jobbing Toledo here, but if I were Stan Joplin right now I would not be happy with the amount of foul calls–especially offensive foul calls–on Toledo in the first half. Kent leads at the half 39-29 and suddenly looks in control of this one. What’s even more troubling for Toledo is with all the foul trouble that they’re in, it’s going to be really hard for them to take chances going for steals in the second half.
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19:18 - Kent with 4 quick points, Toledo with a timeout. Interesting, a lot like the Central earlier Toledo looked like they came in a little warmed up from yesterday’s game and hit some early shots to make it a really tight game, but like with Akron, once Kent got a feel for the game around the 8 minute mark they started to pull away. Let’s see if the trend continues.
15:38 - Toledo cuts it to an 11-point game, and if I’m Joplin I’m considering bringing Amos back (with explicit directions about playing smart). This has been the Q and Scott show in the second half. Superman Scott already has 17 points.
13:49 - Kent leads 52-35, Scott with 20 points.
11:19 - Kent looks like they’re in control of this one up 57-39.
The smart guy award goes to Jim Christian in the second half of this one. He’s been letting Q, Scott, and Fisher sit for long stretches. Good idea with the prospect of playing 3 in 3 days and the possibility that whoever wins the Miami/OU game who Kent will be facing tomorrow could need to do it via a 40-minute slugfest.
8:44 - Tyrone Kent fouls out. Kent State up 21.
7:35 - Kent by 19. OK, I’m bored with this one and ready for OU/Miami now.
3:54 - 71-52 Kent. I’m done until this one’s a final.
Final - Kent wins 77-57. Superman Scott with 23 points in just 28 minutes of play. The Flashes looked really strong, and it’ll be interesting to see if the winner of Bobcats/RedHawks might give them a better game tomorrow. In my opinion win or lose tomorrow Kent State is a tournament team, no doubt about it.
Tags: Golden Flashes, Kent State, KSU, mac, MAC Basketball, MAC Basketball Tournament, mac tournament, Rockets, Toledo, UT
March 13th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Toledo exceeded last night’s 3-point shooing on the past two possessions.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Mike Scott just had a sweet dunk and 3-point play.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I have to admit I did not expect Toledo to hang with Kent in this one, but they’re down just 3 with 3 to play in the 1st half.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
[...] Original post here [...]
March 13th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
A disagreement on a foul call by two refs just resulted in a double-foul on the teams. Not pretty when two refs are adament on their opnions…
March 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Jerrah Young just picked up foul #3 and Jonathan Amos has 3 fouls as well. Currently 10-6 in fouls this half benefitting Kent.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Make that 11-6.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Another offensive fould on UT - 12-6 in fouls…
March 13th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Amos picks up foul #4 contesting a 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer. An absolutely ridiculous play by Amos…