With the Mid-American Conference Tournament a month away, things are tight in the middle of the pack in the men’s basketball standings.
Kent State played Eastern Michigan that way until waking up late to thwart and upset alert with a 95-88 win at home, but the Flashes had to scratch and claw to win.
Kent State (18-7, 9-3) had an 18-point rebounding deficit against the Eagles (8-16, 3-9) but finished the game down just 30-25 on the boards.
EMU held the lead for 21:32 but faded down the stretch.
Morgan Safford (23 points) led Kent in scoring and Delrecco Gillespie (15 points, 12 rebounds) recorded his 20th double-double. Cian Medley (13 points, 10 assists) also recorded a double-double.
Jahari Williamson (15 points) and Quinn Wodke (13 points) rounded out those in double figures.
Addison Patterson (32 points), Mohammad Habhab (22 points), Braelon Green (15 points) and Godslove Nwabude (13 points) logged double figures for the Eagles.
Follow along here for the recap, highlights and in-game analysis:
Kent State pushes the lead on Eastern Michigan
The Golden Flashes hold an 88-83 thanks in large part to making six of their last seven. They’ve also trimmed EMU’s rebounding edge to just six after being down by as many as 18. There’s 1:17 left.
Eastern Michigan holds one-point lead in waning minutes
A three-point play by Addison Patterson (32 points) has Eastern Michigan up 83-82 with 2:14 left. Timeout Kent State with the Flashes inbounding underneath.
Kent holds the edge down the stretch
A 3-pointer by Quinn Woidke gives Kent State an 80-78 lead over Eastern Michigan with 3:39 left. Delrecco Gillespie (13 points, 12 rebounds) has recorded his 20th double double of the season. Morgan Safford is stuck on 16 but Jahari Williamson (14), Woidke (11) and Cian Medley (10) have double figures.
Addison Patterson leads all scorers for EMU with 29.
Kent State jumps ahead of Eastern Michigan
Three free throws from Jahari Williamson put Kent State up 73-72 with 6:02 left. It’s the first lead for the Flashes since the 5:16 mark of the first half when it was 31-30 Kent.
Kent State shows signs of life against Eastern Michigan
The Flashes have hit three of their last four and trail 70-65 with 7:33 left. They’ve cut their rebounding deficit to 10 and have spread the ball around. Morgan Safford is stuck on six, but Delrecco Gillespie (nine), Cian Medley (eight), Rob Whaley Jr. (eight), and Quinn Woidke (eight) are picking things up.
Eastern Michigan up with 11:19 left in the second half
Morgan Safford (16 points) is still the only one in double figures for Kent State, which trails 63-56. While the Flashes are 9-of-17 from behind the arc, EMU is cruising underneath with a 34-12 advantage in the paint and 27-13 edge on the boards.
Addison Patterson (25 points), Mohammad Habhab (18 points) and Godslove Nwabude (13 points) continue to own the stat sheet.
Eastern Michigan dominating Kent State at the media timeout
The Eagles lead 57-51 with 15:31 left. While it’s just a six-point game, Kent State is getting crushed on the boards 25-9 and has given up nine offensive rebounds.
Morgan Safford has 16 for Kent State.
Addison Patterson (20 points), Mohammad Habhab (14 points) and Godslove Nwabude (11 points) lead the way for EMU, which is shooting 60 percent from the floor.
Kent State has to dig itself out of a hole at the break
Eastern Michigan holds a 47-40 lead at the break behind Addison Patterson (20 points),. Mohammad Habhab (11 points) and Godslove Nwabude (11 points).
The Eagles are shooting 64.5 percent from the floor (20-of-31). Kent State has just one team in double figures (Morgan Safford 13).
The bigs have been a problem for Kent State as EMU holds an 18-point edge in the paint (28-10) and is absolutely dominating the glass (21-6). Only Delrecco Gillespie (three), Cian Medley (two) and Dezmon Briscoe (one) have rebounds for Kent.
The Eagles’ shooting has been the difference and allowed EMU to overcome nine first-half turnovers.
Kent State scores, Eastern Michigan increases the lead.
The Eagles are up 44-36 with 52.7 seconds left in the first half. Addison Patterson has taken over things with 17 points. Mohammad Habhab and Godslove Nwabude have 11.
Basket shrinks for Kent State vs. Eastern Michigan
The Eagles hold a 36-31 lead with 3:39 left in the first half. That thanks in large part to a 10-0 run that has seen the Flashes go scoreless for 4:54. During that stretch, Kent’s shooting has shrunk 20 percent as it is now 11-of-25.
Eastern Michigan ekes into the lead over Kent State
The Eagles have held the Flashes scoreless over the last 3:11 to take a 32-31 lead with 5:156 left.
Godslove Nwabude has 11 and Addison Patterson has 10 for EMU, which holds a 20-6 lead in the paint. Morgan Safford has been stuck at 11 for Kent.
Kent State holds five-point lead at second media timeout
It’s 31-26 Flashes with 7:50 left in the first half. Kent State continues to shoot at a torrid pace (61.3 percent, 11-of-18). Morgan Safford’s 11 points still lead all the Flashes. Godslove Nwabude has 11 for Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have doubled up Kent on the boards with 10.
Kent State holds four-point lead midway through the first
The Flashes head into the media timeout up 24-20 and are on a 7-0 run. Kent is shooting 64.3 percent from the floor (9-of-14) and are led by Morgan Safford (11 points). Eastern Michigan has seven from Godslove Nwabude. The Eagles continue to lead points in the paint (12-4).
Kent State leads at the first television timeout
The Flashes lead Eastern Michigan 17-15 with 14:00 left in the first quarter. Morgan Safford is 2-for-3 behind the arc and leads both squads with eight points. Godslove Nwabude has six for the Eagles.
If there’s a concern for Kent, it’s that EMU has 10 points in the paint.
Slow start for the both Kent State, Eastern Michigan
The Flashes have opened 1-of-3 from the floor, while Eastern Michigan is 2-of-5. Kent State owns a 6-4 lead with with 16:47 left in the first.
Yes, it’s that Stan Heath for Eastern Michigan
If the head coach for the Eagles sounds familiar he should. The 58-year old Heath has accumulated 14 years of collegiate head coaching experience with four NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT appearance.
That includes Kent State where he led the Flashes to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002 at MAC. Heath has also guided the University of Arkansas (2006 and 2007) and the University of South Florida (2010 and 2012) to the postseason.
Where can I find the Kent State-Eastern Michigan men’s basketball?
The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350-AM and on ESPN+.
Projected starting lineup for Kent State men’s basketball
Projected starting lineup for Eastern Michigan men’s basketball
Men’s basketball Mid-American Conference standings
The history of Kent State-Eastern Michigan men’s basketball
Eastern Michigan and Kent State are meeting for the 89th time with the Golden Flashes holding a 52-36 lead. Kent State is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings and 30-5 in the last 35 meetings. They have won have won the last three matches. Kent eked out a 76-75 win in double overtime at Ypsilanti, Mich. on Jan. 18.
Who to watch for Eastern Michigan/Kent State
The Eagles have a two-headed scoring machine in Habhab (14.2 ppg, 8.3 ppg) in and Patterson (13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
The Flashes counter with Gillespie (19.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg) and Safford (13.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Rob Whaley Jr. (12.0 ppg) is back and will play in his first home game since Jan. 20.
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State vs. Eastern Michigan men’s basketball score, live updates
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
