Central Michigan University
Kent State
Kent State Edges Chippewas, 66-60
1/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Sophomore Giordan Watson scored half of Central Michigan University's points on Saturday afternoon in Rose Arena but it wasn't enough in a tight, 66-60 loss to Kent State.
Watson poured in a career-high 30 points, including 19 in the first half, keeping the Chippewas within striking distance all game long.
Sefton Barrett tied the game at 52 when he hit a pair of free throws with 5:18 left. But, KSU senior DeAndre Haynes took over after that, scoring seven straight Golden Flash points to keep Kent on top the rest of the way.
"I was proud of the way we played, we kept fighting and making breaks for ourselves," coach Jay Smith said. "It was a couple of block outs and put backs that cost us. We grew up and took care of the ball and that kept us in there against a veteran team.
"Watson had one of the best guard performances we've seen in some time. He's got to continue to lead us. I apologized to him after that game that we don't have a senior to lead them through it."
Kent State improved to 8-5 overall, 2-0 in the MAC with the victory while CMU dropped its fourth straight game to sit 2-9 overall, 0-3 in league action.
It was a guard battle between the sophomore Watson and the senior Haynes with Haynes adding a team-high 20 points for the Golden Flashes. Both players were 9-for-18 from the floor but Watson was 4-for-8 from three-point range and 8-for-11 from the floor. He also dished out two assists and tallied three steals.
Barrett finished with 10 points and four boards for CMU before fouling out with 15 seconds remained.
Kent State took a one-point lead into the locker room at the half, 27-26, and the Golden Flashes shot .542 from the floor in the second frame after hitting .387 in the first. Kent finished shooting .455 from the floor compared to CMU's .404 mark.
Sefton Barrett knifed through three Kent State defenders for two of his 10 points.  | |
Isaac Knight tallied a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the winning effort. KSU outrebounded CMU 40-29.
Chris Kellermann had eight points and six boards for CMU.
The young Chippewas had just 13 turnovers, seven below their season average of 20 per game. CMU had turned the ball over 28 times in each of the last two games and CMU had just five at the half on Saturday.
"It's a process to get back to winning," Smith said. "I've got to make sure we are continuing to take steps forward and not backward. We can be a good basketball teams. We have to learn in games because in practices we're going against freshmen."
The Chippewas now head to Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 11, for a rematch of a 75-62 RedHawk victory back on Dec. 4 in Rose Arena. Tipoff in Millett Hall is set for 7 p.m.
