KENT Chris Evans knew Kent State's problem Tuesday, but the Golden Flashes couldn't seem to stop themselves, or for that fact, Temple.
After Friday's 21-point performance in the overtime win against Drexel, the Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week was just frustrated Tuesday against Temple in an ESPN Tip-Off Marathon game.
"It seemed like every time we made a good play, we couldn't get that stop that put us over the hump," said the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Kent State senior forward after the Golden Flashes lost to Temple, 80-66. "Every time we made a good offensive play, they got a loose ball, offensive rebound or we committed a silly foul. We couldn't get the stop. We needed to keep that run going."
Kent State's woes began early in Tuesday's matchup.
After taking a 2-0 lead, KSU saw Temple go on a 12-2 run. The Golden Flashes were shooting 11.1 percent from the floor in the first 5 minutes -- including 0 of 5 from 3-point range. Temple was 5 of 8 from the floor for 62.5 percent.
Temple (1-0) kept KSU at bay with a barrage of 3s to take a 30-15 lead with 7:32 remaining, going 4 of 5 from that range after taking a 12-9 lead.
"We didn't play in the first half they way we were capable. I thought we were slow on every rotation," Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said, whose team is 1-1.
Temple was 5 of 12 in the first half after starting the game 1 of 4 beyond the arc.
The Owls shot 60 percent from the floor at the break, but the Golden Flashes' seemingly thwarted Temple's offensive game.
Evans added a basket in the final seconds as KSU trailed 40-32 at intermission as the Golden Flashes improved their shooting woes early on by heading into the break with 37.1 percent, but 2 of 10 from 3.
Momentum shifted toward the Golden Flashes after intermission.
KSU went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 40-37 with 18:30 remaining.
The Golden Flashes eventually drew closer with Evans' putback, a right-handed slam of missed 3 with 16:50 left to cut the Temple lead to 45-44.
Then, KSU evened things up on Kris Brewer's steal in the front court. His breakaway slam tied the game at 46 with less than 16 minutes remaining.
Brewer led the Golden Flashes with 19 points, while Evans had 17 and Randal Holt put in 11.
KSU did outrebound Temple 44-30 and have 20 offensive rebounds and 24 defensive, but lost the turnover battle, 21-19.
"At halftime, our kids gave a good effort to start the second half," Senderoff said. "We certainly had our chances. At the end of the day, we didn't play the way we need to play to win. We didn't play enough together on either end of the floor. For them to shoot 53 percent is way too high.
"You can look at the stat sheet and see we didn't do anything too well, aside from offensive rebounds. We got to get better."
Temple then broke away for the final time with a 3 by Scootie Randall to put it up 49-46 with more than 15 minutes left.
Randall, who had a career-high 31 points, was playing his first game after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Anthony Lee added a career-high 16 points.
"This is what you prepare for all year," Randall said. "I give credit to my teammates for finding me and having confidence in me."
Jake O'Brien's 3 with more than 10 minutes left put Temple up 61-51.
Things began to crumble from there as KSU was called for two floor-based technical fouls in the final 10 minutes. One was on Senderoff and the other was on Evans.
"We have to play without getting frustrated. We have to play the next play," Senderoff said. "We didn't do that."
KSU has to regroup for Friday's home game against Chicago State, which tips off at 7 p.m.
"As excited and happy as we were in the win against Drexel, I would hope we were equally as disappointed in the way we played today," Senderoff said.
"You can't get it back. You just have to move on. Friday is another team coming in here not being afraid and we're going to have to play well."
TEMPLE TALK: Temple beat Kent State 73-58 on Jan. 5, 2009, in Philadelphia during the last meeting with the Golden Flashes. KSU is 1-2 against the Owls prior to Tuesday's game with win Nov. 21, 2006 in Kent (63-54). The other meeting was the Golden Flashes' first NCAA Tournament appearance, an opening-round loss on March 12, 1999 in Boston, 64-51.
CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE: The Golden Flashes opened the 2012-13 season with two straight games against Philadelphia-based teams. KSU opened the season Friday with a 66-62 overtime victory against Drexel. Both Temple and Drexel are based in Philadelphia.
TV EXPOSURE: This is the third straight appearance for Kent State in the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon. KSU is 2-0 in this format, winning last season at 10 a.m. at West Virginia and in 2010 at 8 a.m. in a home game against Robert Morris.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: KSU won 86 percent of its home games in the past 15 years, establishing a 172-28 mark prior to Tuesday's game.
NEXT: KSU continues its five-game homestand Friday when the Golden Flashes host Chicago State at 7 p.m. The Cougars come into Friday's game with a 1-1 record after dropping their opener against Green Bay and beating Concordia Chicago on Tuesday night. Games are broadcast on 640-AM WHLO. KSU ends its homestand with games against Valparaiso (2 p.m., Sunday) and Bethune-Cookman (7 p.m., Tuesday).
