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Brouhaha, Quaintance antics taint good game
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
KENT: You would like to focus on one thing from Kent State's victory over the University of Akron on Wednesday night, and that would be KSU's second-half defense.
The Golden Flashes pretty much stuck it to the Zips, erasing a 10-point halftime deficit to win 75-69 and tie them for first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division.
That defense led to 23 UA turnovers — way too many to win.
And it led to the Zips shooting 38 percent in the second half and making just one of their first 11 3-pointers.
If defense wins championships, KSU took a giant step in that direction with its second-half effort.
Problem is there was this little incident with 4.6 seconds left that led to a skirmish in the corner and stuff being thrown toward UA's Quade Milum from the stands and a woman in the stands being tended to who made the mistake
of sitting in the wrong place while watching the game.
Then there was this not-so-little incident after the game, when KSU senior Haminn Quaintance danced and laughed in front of a line of Zips lining up to shake hands.
While UA players stared, Quaintance laughed and sure looked like he was taunting.
It got to the point that Kent State coach Jim Christian ushered Quaintance away. Good for Christian, who didn't need a postgame incident on top of the in-game one.
Quaintance? He turned and sprinted off the floor without shaking hands.
His teammates showed sportsmanship and lined up to shake hands. Quaintance ran off like his socks were on fire.
So much for winning with class.
Rivalry?
Absolutely. And this game was heated and contested strongly.
UA took a 10-point lead at halftime thanks to the fact it made some 3-pointers late.
When KSU put the clamps on in the second half, UA's shooting went back to campus.
This was KSU's night, because of its defensive effort. The only reason the score was close in the final seconds was because of a furious UA flurry. Which was when things got a tad unpleasant.
With 4.6 seconds left, KSU led 71-67 and had the ball. Quaintance took a foul from redshirt freshman Steve McNees. A hard foul, probably too hard, especially since it was right in front of the KSU student body and McNees did not let go of Quaintance after the whistle blew.
Quaintance did not like that, and he reacted with a push and a few words — probably to the effect of ''Excuse me, but I'd like to go shoot the free throws.''
That led to the crowd getting heated, and in stepped Milum — as well as KSU's Jordan Mincy and who knows who else.
A scrum ensued; punches might have been thrown. If so, MAC officials should react strongly.
Milum wound up off the court in the corner of the M.A.C. Center when students decided to pepper him with cups and whatever else they had sitting at their feet.
That led Christian to take the microphone and tell the crowd not to throw anything.
While officials sorted things out, the medical staff tended to a woman sitting in the first row whose foot apparently had been stepped on.
There are principles in sports, and one generally states that if a fan has to be tended to because of a brouhaha, things probably have gone a tad far.
The end result was a personal foul on McNees, a technical on Quaintance, a technical on Milum and a bruised foot for the poor lady sitting in the corner.
Christian had the good sense to take Quaintance out of the game, but when it ended and KSU had won, Quaintance danced toward UA's bench, a huge smile on his face.
It was impossible to hear what he said through the noise, but the intent was clear. Quaintance was laughing at the Zips, an action that no doubt will be remembered when the two play again March 9 at Rhodes Arena.
This apparently was out of character for Quaintance, who by all accounts is ''a good kid.''
Maybe he was merely caught in the heat of the moment of a big win in a rivalry game.
But it stood out.
Maybe Quaintance was upset at the midweek comment of UA's Jeremiah Wood, who said that since UA had beaten KSU four games in a row that might affect the Flashes' confidence.
Apparently that made KSU mad.
Reasons for this anger — if indeed it was present — are hard to comprehend. More inflammatory quotes have resulted in shrugs of the shoulders.
Whatever.
Quaintance wound up having an outstanding game, with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and interior defense that neutralized Wood in the second half.
But a senior has a larger duty to his team — and to the game. McNees' foul was harsh, but that's why guys wear striped shirts, to take care of this kind of thing.
Quaintance overreacted, which led to a not-so-pretty scene that could have gotten a lot worse.
UA coach Keith Dambrot properly said: ''It got out of hand and put a bad mark on a good game.''
Good because of KSU's defense, Quaintance's strong interior play and the second half of KSU guard Al Fisher, who finished with 16 points and three assists. And it was good because of the way it was contested in an exciting environment.
One gets the feeling the next two games between these two teams — surely they will play in the MAC Tournament in March — will be just as good.
But there are ways to lose, and ways to win.
And on this night, one of the Golden Flashes missed the opportunity to celebrate an impressive win the right way.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com.
KENT: You would like to focus on one thing from Kent State's victory over the University of Akron on Wednesday night, and that would be KSU's second-half defense.
Get the full article here.
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