Box Score
Season Statistics
KENT, Ohio ? Joe Reitz recorded his seventh career double-double for Western Michigan with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but Kent State used balanced scoring and accurate shooting in the second half to win a Mid-American Conference game, 77-62, in front of 3,258 at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (11-5, 5-0 MAC) shot 65.4 percent (17-of-26) in the second half to overcome a two-point halftime deficit, 36-34. Kent State also placed five scorers in double figures, led by Jay Youngblood's 13 points.
The game was a back-and-forth affair with seven ties and 15 lead changes in the first 24 ? minutes. With the score tied at 40, Kent took the lead for good on an Isaac Knight layup with 15:29 remaining and gradually built the lead to seven, 50-43. The Broncos (4-11, 1-4 MAC) responded with a 6-0 run to close the gap to one on back-to-back three-pointers by freshmen Derek Drews and Shawntes Gary.
The Golden Flashes experience took over as they responded with a 25-8 run over the next 8:29 to increase their lead to 18 points, 75-57, with only 2:14 left in the game.
The Broncos were in control early, taking a 16-10 lead 7:03 into the game after back-to-back threes from Gary and Drews and held a lead until the 5:21 mark when KSU went on a 6-1 run to take a four-point lead, 27-23.
Action picked up in the final three minutes of the half with two ties and seven lead changes before Derek Fracalossi gave the Broncos the halftime lead on a three-pointer with :20 remaining.
Each team had only four offensive rebounds, but Kent State picked up seven more boards on the defensive end to win the rebounding battle, 36-29. Behind their strong second-half shooting performance the Golden Flashes outshot the Broncos, 52.6 percent-39.6 percent. After hitting 13-of-31 shots in the first half, WMU connected on 8-of-22 in the second half.
Brian Snider added 15 points and three assists for the Brown & Gold while Gary tied his career-high with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting (2-of-3 from three-point land).
DeAndre Haynes scored 12 points for Kent State while Knight, Nate Gerwig and Armon Gates added 11 points to go with Youngblood's team-high total.
The Broncos return to University Arena Saturday afternoon against Miami (8-5, 5-0 MAC) at 2 p.m. Gates will open at 11 a.m. for the WMU Garage Sale leading up to the contest. Fans must have a game ticket to access the sale.
