Marshall University Athletics
Kent State Downs Marshall, 116-76
2/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Kent State Downs Marshall, 116-76
2/20/2002
- Box Score
KENT, Ohio (AP) - Trevor Huffman scored 25 points and Andrew Mitchell added 21 as Kent State beat Marshall 116-76 Tuesday night, clinching the Mid-American Conference East Division and at least a share of the league's regular-season championship.
The Golden Flashes (21-5, 14-1), who have never won a league title in 51 years in the MAC, would win the championship outright with one more win or a loss by Ball State.
The victory over Marshall was Kent State's 12th straight and clinched the No. 1 seed in the MAC tournament to be held March 7-9 at Gund Arena in Cleveland.
Kent State made a team record 16 3-pointers on 28 attempts. The Golden Flashes set the tone midway through the first half with a 20-0 run. Mitchell started the run with driving layups on back-to-back possessions.
Kent State led 44-21 with 4:46 remaining before Marshall scored again. The Golden Flashes matched their highest scoring half of the year when Huffman beat the halftime buzzer with a fallaway 3-pointer from the top of the arc, making it 61-33.
Ronald Blackshear led Marshall (12-13, 6-9) with 26 points, including 21 in the second half. Tamar Slay added 16.
Kent State's bench played the final 14:09 and extended their lead mostly against the Thundering Herd starters.
Reserve Anthony Wilkins scored 17 points while making 5-of-7 3-pointers for Kent State. Huffman was 5-of-7 on 3-pointers and Mitchell was 4-of-5.
Kent State tied its record for points in a game, matching the 116 scored against Delaware State in 1975.
Marshall, still very much alive in the hunt for a first round home game in the MAC Tournament, now travels to Amherst, N.Y. for a Saturday meeting with the University at Buffalo. The tip is set for 7:00 p.m.
