Kent State men's basketball hosts Division II Concord before trip to El Paso

Staff report
·2 min read

The game: Kent State vs. Concord, 5 p.m. Sunday at the M.A.C.C.

TV/radio: ESPN+ / Kent State Radio Network

Records: Kent State is 7-3 following a 67-58 win at Cleveland State on Dec. 10. Concord is 7-3 after a 93-82 win over Frostburg State (Md.) on Dec. 10.

Kent State guard Sincere Carry drives to the basket for a shot during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.
Kent State guard Sincere Carry drives to the basket for a shot during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 at the Kent State M.A.C. Center.

The coaches: Rob Senderoff is 226-142 in his 12th season at Kent State. Todd May, a 2001 graduate of Ohio, is 90-84 in his seventh season at Concord.

Series history: Kent State leads 1-0, defeating Concord 89-59 in November 2019.

Kent State lineup: Projected starters are 6-1 R-Sr. Sincere Carry (17.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game); 6-8 R-Sr. Miryne Thomas (11.5, 5.3, 0.5), 6-1 R-Jr. Giovanni Santiago (7.9, 1.9, 2.3), 6-3 R Sr. Malique Jacobs (13.2, 4.0, 2.8) and 6-9 Soph. Cli’Ron Hornbeak (6.6, 6.7, 0.4).

Concord lineup: Projected starters are 6-5 Gr. Lual Daniel Rahama (16.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.0 apg); 6-3 Jr. Jordan Wooden (9.4, 4.2, 1.2); 6-7 Gr. Da’Vion Moore (6.7, 5.8, 1.2); 6-4 Sr. Jevon Laidler (9.9, 5.4, 1.1), and 6-0 Sr. Ethan Heller (9.1, 3.6, 2.9).

Notes: Concord junior JJ Harper (6-5) averages 13.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game off the bench. He is averaging 23 minutes per game. 6-5 sophomore Amare Smith (7.1 ppg) and 6-3 freshman Kollin Tolbert (6.7 ppg) also see significant minutes in reserve roles. … The Mountain Lions are ranked No. 5 in Division II in rebounds per game (43.8) and No. 7 in defensive rebounds per game (30.3). .. Kent St. leads the MAC in field goal percentage defense (.376), scoring defense (62.6 points per game) and turnovers forced (17.9). … Carry is averaging 35.5 minutes per game which is tops in the MAC and 26th in the country. … Jacobs is averaging 3.89 steals per game to lead the nation. Miryne Thomas’ .406 shooting percentage on 3s is tops in the MAC. … The Golden Flashes are 33rd in the NET rankings, which help the NCAA Tournament committee select at-large teams. Ball State is the next-highest rated MAC team, at 140.

Next: Kent State will play New Mexico State in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 in El Paso, Texas. The Golden Flashes will play either North Carolina A&T or UTEP on Dec. 22.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State men's basketball plays Concord (W. Va.) on Sunday