Game Highlights (VIDEO)


KENT, OH -- The Kent State Golden Flashes (7-3) rode a big first half to an 87-71 win over NJIT (5-6) on Saturday night at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent.
 
After a layup from Osa Izevbuwa brought the Highlanders within 7-6 in the early going, Kent State embarked on a 25-8 run capped by a three-pointer from Jaylin Walker to make it a 32-14 game with 10:06 left in the first half.
 
The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and the Golden Flashes took a 47-30 lead into the locker room.
 
Senior guard Damon Lynn led the way for NJIT with 23 points while Izevbuwa added a career-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and freshman Anthony Tarke chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
 
Izevbuwa's previous career-high was 15 points in a 90-55 win vs. Sarah Lawrence on Feb. 28, 2015.
 
Lynn also added five rebounds and four assists for head coach Brian Kennedy's squad.
 
Walker paced Kent State with a game-high 29 points and senior forward Jimmy Hall contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Kent State hit 32-of-64 (50.0%) from the field while NJIT hit 26-of-66 (39.4%).
 
The Highlanders trailed 58-38 early in the second half before cutting the deficit to 12 with an 8-0 run.
 
In fact, Lynn hit one of his three triples on the night to make it a 64-55 game with just over 10 minutes to play. Kent State responded with a quick 5-0 spurt to stretch the lead back to 14 and NJIT would not get closer than 12 the rest of the way as the Golden Flashes seemingly had an answer for every Highlander run.
 
The Highlanders will look to bounce back on Wednesday night when they battle the Iona Gaels (6-3) at Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle. Opening tip is slated for 7 p.m. 


Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry