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

Great job Ladies. Super second half. Still think Starkey is COACH OF THE YEAR!!!
Lurkin with 17 in second half.

Yes another win, 70-60 against BG. Lurken 20, Korinek 17 and Carter 14.

Ohio lost tonight so we are alone in first place at 10-5. Ohio and Buffalo are tied for second at 9-6. Would be the number 4 if season ended today. One game behind 11-4 NIU and one game ahead of Ohio, Buffalo and Toledo.

Lurken's 20 points gives her 624 this season, second highest in KSU history. Bonnie Beachy set the record of 732 in 34 games in 1980-81. Kent State has at least four more games to go this season. Lurken would have to average more than 27 -- or play another game or two -- to break the record.

Story of the game was that Kent State didn't start rebounding until the second half. BG outrebounded Kent 29-17 in the first half with 13 offensive rebounds and led 29-27. In the second half, it was Kent State 20-16 (10 to 9 offensive). On the blog at http://wbbflashes.com, Starkey explains how he smashed his clipboard on the floor toward the end of the second quarter to "scare them into attention" on rebounding.

KSU went on a 14-0 run about five minutes into the third quarter to take control of the game.

Jordan Korinek had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Megan Carter had 14, equaling the career high she had Saturday against Ohio. She's begun to take some of the pressure off of Lurken to score from the guard spot.

Flashes play Akron at 2 p.m. Saturday at the MACC.

The women host Akron at 2 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.

The Flashes beat Akron 72-58 at Akron 10 days ago for their first win over the Zips on five years.

KSU is in first place in the MAC East at 10-5 (16-11 overall). Akron is in last in the East at 2-13 (9-17).

Full preview is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

And on TV

Preview on http://wbbflashes.com blog includes a detailed look at the prospects for Kent's seeding in the MAC tournament.

If the Flashes win their last three games -- Akron Saturday, Miami Wednesday and Buffalo next Saturday -- they're guaranteed a first-round bye.

It's most likely going to come down to the Buffalo game. The Bulls (9-6 in the MAC) are a game behind KSU. But Buffalo beat the Flashes by 15 in Buffalo. A second win by the Bulls likely would tie them with KSU, and they'd have the tie-breaker over the Flashes. KSU holds the tie breaker over Toledo and Ohio, which are tied with Buffalo.

Actually there are subtle differences in RPI formulas. The one the NCAA uses gives bonus points and penalties for certain things. Most if not all of these differences are not made public and are used to claim that their formula is best. It's more than likely smoke and mirrors but they do tweak the formula.

Oops I meant to post this on the baseball thread. Sorry.

I'll post it in baseball, too. It's good info.

The women beat Akron 73-69, behind 28 points from Larissa Lurken.

Buffalo was upset 64-62 by Bowling Green at home, so all KSU has to do is beat 4-12 Miami on Wednesday or beat Buffalo in Kent on Saturday to clinch the fourth seed and first-round bye in the MAC tournament.

Kent State is 17-11 on the season, 11-5 in the conference, and has won five games in a row. Akron is 9-18 and 2-14.

I'll add more after the men's game. First draft of the game story is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

That unexpected help from BG beating Buffalo sure helped. It was beginning to look like Kent would play Buffalo for the 4 seed in the last game and then win or lose would have to play them in the 4 vs 5 game in Cleveland. I think they are a bad match up for us and that would be tough. Hopefully a win at Miami will make that unnecessary.

By the way I am not looking forward to having to play against that Akron freshman point guard. Neither Carter or Cross could stay in front of her. She is going to be tough.

Also Korinek was getting blocked all day. The Akron bigs wouldn't let her get a shot off. I never have seen her have that issue but she sure did today.