Kent State defeats UMass 59-69

Kent State Edges UMass in Thrilling Conference Showdown

The Kent State Golden Flashes handed the UMass Minutemen a tough 69-59 defeat on Saturday night, capping off an impressive road trip with a hard-fought conference win at Mullins Center.

The Minutemen, playing in front of their home crowd, struggled to contain the high-powered Kent State offense, which outscored them 35-24 in the first half. UMass's Leonardo Bettiol led all scorers with 14 points on 50% shooting, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Golden Flashes' balanced attack.

Kent State's Delrecco Gillespie was a force to be reckoned with, grabbing 20 rebounds and chipping in 18 points to help his team build an early lead. The senior forward also dished out two assists, including one that set up Cian Medley for an easy layup, highlighting the Golden Flashes' ability to share the ball effectively.

The Minutemen made a push at halftime, closing the gap to just 4 points, but Kent State responded with a 14-0 run in the second half, capped off by Quinn Woidke's 3-pointer. The junior guard finished with 19 points on 40% shooting and 4 three-pointers.

Kent State's defense was equally impressive, holding UMass to just 33.0% shooting from the field and forcing 14 turnovers. The Golden Flashes' ability to limit the Minutemen's fast break opportunities and force them into tough shots helped seal the victory.

In a closely contested game, Kent State emerged victorious, thanks in large part to their strong team defense. The win improves the Golden Flashes' resume and sets them up for success in conference play moving forward.

Game Stats:

* Kent State (AWAY): 24/57 FG, 16/29 2PT, 8/28 3PT, 13/17 FT

* UMass (HOME): 18/55 FG, 12/37 2PT, 6/18 3PT, 17/24 FT