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Purdue Fort Wayne
Kent State
Mastodons Let Another One Slip Away
12/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2006
Fort Wayne, IN-The IPFW men's basketball team failed to put the lid on Kent State in the second half on Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Coliseum. The Golden Flashes took the lead with 12:31 remaining and held off the Mastodons, 79-69.
In an all too familiar script, IPFW held the lead for most of the first half with sophomore guard Jakari Johnson putting the 'Dons up by seven (20-13) on a three-pointer at the 11:53 mark.
Kent State chipped away at that lead, and on a fast-break layup by senior guard Omni Smith, the Golden Flashes had pulled to within one at 24-23.
The Mastodons (3-7) increased their cushion back to seven points on a triple from sophomore guard Kyle Savely, but with just a second left in the half, senior guard Armon Gates' three-pointer gave KSU a 39-37 half-time advantage.
IPFW made some adjustments in the locker room and opened the second half on a
12-1 run.
Senior forward Justin Hawkins drilled a pair of triples and Johnson added one of his own to give the Mastodons a 48-40 lead.
IPFW held that lead until KSU freshman guard Mike McKee got loose. McKee hit three from behind the arc, in a span of three minutes, to tie the game at 52.
After Smith converted an old-fashioned three-point play, Kent State began to pull away.
The Golden Flashes looked inside to sophomore forward Julian Sullinger, who finished with 16 points, and hit their foul shots down the stretch for the 10 point win.
Kent State (5-3) got balanced scoring, booking five players with double-figures, led by Gates with 17.
IPFW was led by Hawkins with 12 points. Johnson and junior forward DeWitt Scott each chipped in 11.
The Mastodons shot the ball well (46.9%) but suffered 19 turnovers and managed only 14-21 from the foul line.
IPFW's next contest will be on the road at IUPUI next Saturday night at 7:00pm.
The 'Dons dropped a 70-60 decision to the Jaguars on November 25 at the Memorial Coliseum.
~Dons~
