BOX SCORE

QUOTES

NOTES

KALAMAZOO -- Rodriquez Sherman dunked and made a free throw with two seconds remaining to lead Kent State over Western Michigan, 74-73, in front of 3,961 at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Broncos (11-9, 3-4 MAC) had taken the lead, 73-71, with 7.1 seconds remaining when David Kool hit a fadeaway jumper from 17-feet for the last of his career-high 38 points against the Golden Flashes (14-7, 5-2 MAC).

Kool hit 12-of-23 shots from the field, while also making all 12 free throws. Freshman Nate Hutcheson added nine points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal for the Broncos.

The Golden Flashes started fast as WMU went scoreless for the first 4:38 of the game and trailed by nine, 11-2, but Martelle McLemore drove for a lay-up and Kool scored five in a row to cut the deficit to three, 11-8, with 13:21 to play. The Broncos continued to fight back and eventually took their first lead of the game, 20-18, after back-to-back offensive rebound scores by Flenard Whitfield and Nate Hutcheson with 10:19 left in the half.

Kent State clamped down and held the Broncos scoreless for the next 5:55 as it rattled off nine points in a row to go back up seven, 27-20, with 6:12 to play in the half. Demetrius Ward ended the drought by driving the lane and muscling a shot over his defender to cut the lead to five, 27-22, with 4:24 to play.

Kool hit the Broncos' only three-pointer of the first half and Hutcheson got loose behind the zone for a lay-up to cut the margin to two, 29-27, but then WMU gave up six-straight second-chance points to fall back behind by eight, 35-27, before McLemore hit two free throws with four seconds left to account for the halftime score, 35-29.

The Broncos shot 31.3 percent (10-32) in the first half, including 1-of-11 three-pointers, but hung around by forcing 10 Kent State turnovers that led to an 11-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Golden Flashes shot 51.9 percent (14-27), including 1-of-8 behind the arc. KSU out-rebounded WMU, 21-15, and scored three more second chance points, 10-7.

The Broncos started the second half on a 10-2 run to re-take the lead, 39-37, on Whitfield's hook shot with 15:40 to go in the game. WMU increased the lead to five, 42-37, when Kool buried an NBA three to beat the shot clock and then six, 44-38, with 14:05 to go on two Kool free throws.

Kent State fought back to within two multiple times, but the Broncos continued to find the answer and increased the lead to a game-high eight, 58-50, when Alex Wolf found Muhammed Conteh with 6:46 remaining in the game. Kent State responded with seven in a row to cut the lead to one until Kool made two more free throws. KSU scored again, but then Kool drove the lane, made the lay-up and was fouled. His ensuing free throw put WMU back up four, 63-59, with 4:26 to play. KSU came right back with a three-point play of its own to keep the game at one, 63-62, when the final media timeout was called at 3:51 after an offensive foul by KSU.

The Broncos scored back-to-back lay-ups with Douglas finding a wide-open Donald Lawson underneath to go up five and the lead remained five, 69-64, when Kool drove the lane and hit a floater with 2:06 to play. Kent State came back with a three-point play by Chris Singletary and dunk in transition by Anthony Simpson to tie the game with 1:15 to go.

The Broncos had a chance to keep the lead on the next possession, but missed a pair of free throws. WMU held on the defensive end as McLemore notched a steal and Kool hit two free throws with 31 seconds remaining to put WMU in front, 71-69. Kent State tied the game 10 seconds later to set up the dramatic final moments.

The Broncos finished the game shooting 43.6 percent (24-55) and made 22-of-28 free throws (.786), while Kent State shot 43.9 percent (25-57) and made 22-of-26 free throws (.846).

WMU out-scored KSU in points off turnovers, 23-7, after forcing 17, but Kent had more rebounds, 41-27, which led to a 16-10 edge in second chance points.

The Golden Flashes were led by Chris Singletary with 24 points, while Sherman added 12 points.