ATHENS (AP) — Jordan Dartis sank half of his 10 3-point attempts and scored 20 to lead six players in double figures and Ohio won back-to-back Mid-American Conference games for the first time this season with an 88-76 victory over Kent State on Tuesday night.
Dartis added four assists, three rebounds and two steals for the Bobcats (12-15, 5-10 MAC). Teyvion Kirk scored 17 and Kevin Mickle and James Gollon added 13 points apiece with Gollon snaring seven rebounds. Mike Laster and Doug Taylor scored 11 and 10, respectively.
Ohio hit 7 of its 10 3-pointers in the first half and led 47-39 at intermission. The Bobcats led 62-51 on a Laster layup with 12 minutes left to play, but Kevin Zabo and BJ Duling combined for seven points in a 9-0 surge to pull Kent State within 62-60 with 9:12 remaining. Kirk scored six straight points in an 8-0 run to push Ohio’s lead back to double digits and the Bobcats were never threatened from there.
Adonis De La Rosa paced the Golden Flashes (13-15, 7-8) with 13 points, while Jaylin Walker, Desmond Ridenour and Zabo all scored 12.
OHIO 88, KENT ST. 76
KENT ST. (13-15)
Pippen 2-5 0-0 4, De La Rosa 6-11 1-1 13, Walker 5-17 1-1 12, Peterson 3-4 0-0 6, Avery 3-6 1-2 9, Frederick 0-0 0-0 0, Duling 3-6 1-2 8, Zabo 4-14 4-4 12, Ridenour 5-6 0-0 12. Totals 31-69 8-10 76.
OHIO (12-15)
Taylor 5-7 0-0 10, Kirk 5-9 7-8 17, Dartis 7-15 1-2 20, Laster 3-9 4-5 11, Gollon 5-8 0-0 13, Mickle 5-6 2-2 13, Butler 1-1 0-0 2, Block 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 32-58 14-17 88.
Halftime—Ohio 47-39. 3-Point Goals—Kent St. 6-25 (Ridenour 2-3, Avery 2-5, Duling 1-2, Walker 1-9, Peterson 0-1, Pippen 0-2, Zabo 0-3), Ohio 10-24 (Dartis 5-10, Gollon 3-6, Mickle 1-2, Laster 1-4, Kirk 0-1, Block 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Kent St. 33 (De La Rosa, Avery 7), Ohio 29 (Gollon 7). Assists—Kent St. 10 (Zabo, Avery 4), Ohio 19 (Kirk, Dartis, Block 4). Total Fouls—Kent St. 17, Ohio 13.