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Kent, OH – After coming off a home-opening 107-93 additional time loss on Monday to Troy, the Kent State appeared to rebound towards the Cornell Massive Crimson. Kent State is coming off a 24-14 2024-25 season during which they reached the second spherical of the Mid-American Convention Match (MAC) and the third spherical of the Nationwide Invitational Match (NIT), dropping to Loyola Chicago. The Golden Flashes graduated 4 impression gamers final yr and is now on the lookout for older gamers to step as much as lead them this season. Kent State topped Cornell tonight, 110-102 in a shootout.
It was a quick begin for the Golden Flashes as 6’4 graduate guard Morgan Safford began issues off with a catch and shoot three-pointer to get Kent State on the board first. Safford used his fast go off the dribble to create offensive alternatives all night time for the Golden Flashes. The sport would flip right into a capturing exhibition within the first half as Cornell’s 6’2 senior guard Connor Noard would take it upon himself to guide the Massive Crimson in scoring 34 factors on 10-of-18 from the sphere, together with 5-of-12 from behind the arc. He used his fast burst and muscular construct to create contact on drives and power defenders to commit fouls within the paint as he shot 9-of-9 from the free throw line.
From a scouting perspective, Kent State’s Morgan Safford confirmed he was the perfect participant on the ground, attending to his spots and being deadly all night time within the catch and shoot, scoring 34 factors on a sturdy 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the sphere, together with capturing 9-of-15 (60.0%) from deep. The graduate guard confirmed that he has a robust mechanical shot launch and follow-through on his shot. Safford additionally made his impression felt on the defensive finish as Kent State stepped up its vitality within the second half, accumulating 4 steals. One other large impression participant was beginning senior ahead 6’8 Delrecco Gillespie, who completed with a double-double with 15 factors and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. He led the defensive effort for the Golden Flashes utilizing his fast toes to contest basket drives and vertical and lateral size to contest and problem pictures on the rim, coming away with two blocks on the night time.
Kent State’s place to begin guard, junior 5’11”. Cian Medley contributed with 12 factors in 26 minutes, flattening 3-of-4 from behind the arc and forcing a steal. Though Medley didn’t bounce out along with his numbers statistically, he confirmed he can deal with the start line guard duties, dealing with the ball versus full-court strain whereas staying sturdy defensively himself within the choose and roll and on switches within the halfcourt. Graduate ahead/middle 6’7, 289-pound Rob Whaley Jr. additionally impacted each ends of the ground for Kent State along with his physicality on the glass. He used his weight and large physique to create low-post scoring alternatives as he chipped in with 10 factors in 16 minutes of motion.
Two gamers who didn’t essentially stand out within the field rating however made large impacts within the sport had been freshman backup level guard 6’2 Omer Hamama, who had 10 assists and 7 factors in 19 minutes, and graduate 6’9 ahead Magnus Entenmann. Hamama orchestrated the offense all night time for the Golden Flashes, displaying he may deal with full-court strain and facilitate the ball, discovering open shooters. The duo of Omer Hamama and Morgan Safford had been in sync all night time within the excessive pick-and-roll and catch-and-shoot sport for Kent State. Entenmann made all of the little successful performs for Kent State. He secured seven rebounds, together with 4 on the offensive glass, and displayed his excessive motor by being the primary to dive on the ground after a unfastened ball, forcing bounce balls and turnovers in an in depth second half. Entenmann has bodily power and instruments that additionally bounce out when evaluating him, which he makes use of to make small impacts on each ends of the ground.
Regardless of the lead being shut at instances within the first half, Kent State by no means trailed, main 78-60 within the second half. Just a few late defensive stops by the Golden Flashes secured their first win of the 2025-26 season.
This text was written by Nate Koesel, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You may comply with us on Instagram, or on twitter.
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