The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Kent enters today's game on a seven-game winning streak and tied with Western Michigan for the best record in the MAC, while BG is at .500 in the MAC and had lost four of its last five games before beating OU on Wednesday.

The Falcons also have struggled on the road this year, going 1-8. Because the Flashes have an 8-1 record at home this year and a 65-10 mark at the MAC Center over the past five seasons, the odds certainly favor Kent to win today's game.

However, last year BG fell behind Kent by 24 points but staged a second-half rally to win 78-74. And seven years ago BG was down 42-17 at the half, yet rallied to defeat Kent 70-69.

But historically, Kent has proven to be the best team in the MAC since 1999. The Flashes have won 76 league games since 1999; the next-highest team, BG, has won 62 MAC games in that span.

In the first meeting this year BG took a school-record 34 shots from 3-point range, but made only eight (23.5 percent); on the season the Falcons are connecting on 36.8 percent of their treys.

With BG's poor performance on the road coupled with its inconsistent shooting from 3-point range, Kent should handle the Falcons at home in front of a national TV audience.

The Flashes need to payback BG for last year's 78-74 loss at home.
Anything less than a convincing win today will be a disappointment.

Go Flashes!!!

Give the Falcons "40 minutes of hell" :saber:

Defense! Defense! Defense!

34-31 BG at the half. BG opened a 13-2 lead. Kent came back. took a one point lead late in the first half. They are hot and cold this afternoon.
GO FLASHES!!!

For Kent to win, the Flashes will have to play better defense.

Go Kent!!!

Happy for the win but I have to say I'm disappointed in the way they played today. Does anyone else for the same way?

I recorded the game and will watch it again later. Sometimes they looked good and other times they looked bad. For example Cutley would makes some good plays on offense and defense but then would miss easy shots under the basket.

Not a good game for Edwards. Because the big guy got into early foul trouble, he never really was able to get into the flow of the game. I personally thought the refs called too many fouls and this might have disrupted the team from establishing any consistent play on offense or defense.

Bedford made some big 3-point shots and Haynes played well in the last minutes of the game.

Kent still has not played a good first half in quite awhile. I certainly hope the coaches can get this corrected before the Flashes lose a game and blow any chances for an at-large bid.

Maybe after watching the game again I will feel better about it.

BTW, I thought the M.A.C. Center looked good on T.V. and am looking forward the next televised game.

Go Kent!!!

I agree, nashville, that the win was not by the margin of victory that we'd hoped. But my perspective is a little different.

First, every MAC team is going to bring their "A game" to play us. BG sure did, they played well. It's not as though the Falcons played poorly; weren't they shooting 64% from the field at some point in the second half?

Second, a win is a win. The Flashes would have lost this game a year ago. Championship teams just find a way to win. I think the games with wins of 20+ margins are over for the rest of the regular season.

Third, we are very deep in talent, but don't have any great talent on the floor right now. In fact, player for player we probably match up pretty well with the top four teams in the MAC. The difference with the Flashes comes down to this team's discipline, poise and confidence. All of that, IMO, comes from coaching.

Flashfan,
Could not have said it better. BG was lucky in that rim bounces in that all seem to go in for them. I believe that you make your luck and BUGS sure did play hard. Their team is hard to figure. They have played some stinkers, but to play this well sure confirms that teams bring their A game to us.

After watching closely for several games, I believe that the opposition strategy is to beat up Eric Haut. He has had about 2 open shots in the last 2 games. Every shot is worked for. "Let Haynes go on the outside. He is not a great shooter. Make the front line beat us." We are small and John is the only inside threat. When we do not shoot well from Edwin, Bedford, Brown, Cudley, etc. We have a very difficult time. Thank you Mr Bedford tonite. And Dakich can still coach. And I still hate BUGS.

GFlash68 Wrote:And I still hate BUGS.

I watched the game on tape delay this evening when I got home from class. All I could think while watching it was "Whew! Close one!" and " I f*&king hate BG. They are a pain in the arse and I can't wait for Netter and Rheimhold to graduate already!"

They just continue to find ways to win. Not pretty a lot of the time, but championship teams just find ways to win. I thought Christian was on to something when he pressed a couple of times on the inbound. A preview of the future?