QUICK HITS
- Cleveland State outscored Kent State 45-44 over 27:13 of the game
- Algevon Eichelberger led Cleveland State with 14 points and eight rebounds
- Tre Gomillion finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field
- Deante Johnson had 10 points and four rebounds
- Cleveland State outrebounded Kent State 34-30 for the game
GAME RECAP
KENT, Ohio -- Despite a strong start and a solid second half and 14 points and eight rebounds from Algevon Eichelberger, Cleveland State dropped an 81-59 decision to Kent State on Saturday in the MAC Center.
Cleveland State led by as many as six points in the opening 10 minutes of the opening half and led 19-18 with 9:57 to play in the first period. The Vikings played evenly with the Golden Flashes over the final 20 minutes of the game as Kent State outscored Cleveland State 33-30 in the second period. Combining the opening 7:13 of the game and the entire second period, Cleveland State outscored Kent State 45-44.
Kent State turned the game with a 26-3 run over a six-minute stretch in the first half, which turned a one-point deficit into a 22-point lead.
Eichelberger was 6-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-5 from the free throw line to lead the Vikings in scoring. His eight rebounds also topped the team and he added a blocked shot.
Tre Gomillion was 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line to reach double figures in scoring for the fifth time this season.
Cleveland State, which dropped to 4-6 on the season. outrebounded the Golden Flashes 34-30 for the game. Kent State, which improved to 8-1 on the season, shot 52.4 percent from the floor for the game and scored 31 points off of 18 Cleveland State turnovers.
Gomillion broke a 7-7 tie with a three-pointer, which gave the Vikings a 10-7 lead at the 16:06 mark of the opening period.
Craig Beaudion increased the Cleveland State lead to 12-7 with a short jumper in the paint at the 15:14 mark of the opening period.
After Antonio Williams cut the Vikings lead to 12-9 with a layup, Gomillion converted a three-point play giving the Vikings their largest lead of the game at 15-9 with 13:56 to play in the first period.
Kent State used a 5-0 run to cut the Cleveland State lead to 15-14, but Eichelberger scored inside to increase the Cleveland State lead to 17-14 at the 11:48 mark of the first.
A layup by Williams and a basket by Phillip Whittington gave the Golden Flashes an 18-17 lead with 10:27 to play, but Eichelberger countered with a layup that put Cleveland State back in front with 9:57 to play before halftime.
Kent State then used its game-changing run to pull away from the Vikings.
Cleveland State returns to action on Dec. 15 when it visits Bowling Green for a non-conference game beginning at 4 p.m.