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Shift in starting lineup doesn't add up to much as KSU take loss in OT
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Dec 07, 2008
KENT: In an attempt to spark his slumping team Saturday night, Kent State coach Geno Ford shook up his starting lineup.
The first-year Golden Flashes coach opted to go with all juniors against visiting Western Carolina University, bringing three seniors — guards Al Fisher and Jordan Mincy and forward Julian Sullinger — off the bench.
But the bold move didn't accomplish much, as the Golden Flashes dropped their fifth consecutive game — an 89-84 overtime loss — that sent the team to its longest losing streak since the 1997-98 season.
''It's like we've forgotten how to win,'' Ford said. ''We've got a lot of work to do.''
When the Catamounts (4-2) opened the game on a 10-4 run, it turned out to be a sign of things to come. The scrappy team from Cullowhee, N.C., simply outplayed the Flashes, forcing 17 turnovers with the aid of 10 steals.
The Catamounts made a majority of their free throws, too — especially down the stretch in overtime. Yet the free-throw line proved to be a bitter place for KSU, which managed to go just 26-of-40.
''Free-throw shooting boils down to stepping up there with confidence,'' Ford said. ''And confidence is something we're struggling with in many areas.''
With WCU off to a quick start, Ford summoned the benched three players into the action expecting to have lit a fire under them. It worked briefly, as KSU (3-5) gained its first lead three minutes later and took a 39-31 lead at halftime.
But like three of the previous four losses, the young Flashes could not extend the lead in the second half to put the game away. The Catamounts opened the half with a 12-4 run to pull even at 43-43 with 16:05 to go. Kent State struggled to keep pace from there on out, falling behind by as many as 10 points twice.
The Flashes used back-to-back 3-pointers by Mike McKee and Chris Singletary to pull within two points at 74-72 with just over two minutes left in regulation.
A two-handed dunk by center Brandon Parks and a shot-clock violation on WCU gave the Flashes the ball with 8.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
''We only subbed Chris and BP for fatigue,'' Ford said of the standout players, who combined for 41 points and 21 rebounds. ''Everyone else came out for mistakes.''
McKee inbounded the ball under the visitors' basket and Fisher began to race up court when he was fouled by freshman guard Harouna Mutombo (the nephew of NBA veteran center Dikembe Mutombo.)
But the Mid-American Conference reigning MVP split the two free throws that would have sealed the comeback, sending the game in overtime with the score tied at 77.
Despite the loss, Saturday's game was a special one for KSU first-year coach Geno Ford, whose former coach and mentor Larry Hunter is in his fourth year at the helm of WCU.
Ford was a four-year letterman under Hunter at Ohio University from 1993-97, and later joined Hunter on the sidelines for a three-year stint as an assistant coach with the Bobcats.
But the two put their friendship aside for two hours Saturday night, going head-to-head for the first time — in basketball at least.
''He wanted to beat me, I wanted to beat him,'' Hunter said. ''It's the way we play golf, too. But Geno's like a son to me, so a part of me feels bad for him now with his team going through this tough stretch.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
KENT: In an attempt to spark his slumping team Saturday night, Kent State coach Geno Ford shook up his starting lineup.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 03:58 PM, 12/07/2008
Kent needs Evans in as soon as possible. They were supposed to be weak in the post, and they've managed there. Instead, turnovers and missed free throws continue to haunt the Flashes this season.
Fisher is an unbelievable ball player, but you can see that he tries to force things to happen when they're not coming natural to him, and that only results in turnovers and poor shot selection.
Evans can be the offensive key to turn this team around.
