From some other site...
From some other site...
GAME NOTES: The Kent State Golden Flashes try to stay undefeated, while the Chattanooga Mocs go for their seventh win of year as the two clash at McKenzie Arena tonight. The Flashes have won all five of their contests this season and beat Cleveland State, 91-68 on Saturday. They also have a winning streak of 20 regular season games on the line. It's the longest such winning streak in the nation right now as the team last lost a game in the regular season to Buffalo almost a year ago, on January 9th, 2002. The Mocs have also put together a stretch of five consecutive wins, extending it with a 66-49 over Furman on Monday. They are a perfect 3-0 at home this season and their only loss of the year came against UAB away from home, 92-81. Tonight's contest marks just the third-ever meeting in history between these two teams, with Kent State winning both previous matchups, including a 75-56 triumph in Ohio last year.
The Golden Flashes' Antonio Gates is one of the best players in the Mid- American Conference this season, averaging a team-high 19.0 ppg. Gates also leads the team in rebounding with 6.5 rpg and has dished out a second-best 24 assists. Eric Haut is second on the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg and is shooting 58.7 percent from the field. Anthony Wilkins is scoring 12.2 ppg, collecting 6.4 rpg, and has made 14-of-27 three-pointers. Nate Gerwig is fourth on the team in scoring with 11.6 ppg and has made 22-of-28 field goal attempts for an astonishing shooting percentage of .786. Gates and Gerwig each scored a team-high 20 points in the win over Cleveland State. Gates also had a double-double in adding 10 assists, and fell one rebound short of a triple- double, finishing with nine boards. Gerwig finished shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor and pulled down five rebounds. Anthony Wilkins netted 19 points and came up with six caroms, while connecting on 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Ashley Champion leads a balanced scoring attack for the Mocs this season with 16.3 ppg. He's been extremely accurate in shooting 69.7 percent from the floor, while also leading the team by pulling down 6.9 rpg. Tim Parker is second on the squad with 12.1 ppg and has a deadly shot from the outside, hitting on 15-of-29 three-point attempts. While Champion and Parker are the only Chattanooga players in double digits, it does have three other players averaging over 8.5 ppg this year. In the win over Furman, Champion led the Mocs in scoring for the fourth time this season with 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds as well. Bryan Richardson came off the bench to add 12 points and Ray Trowell chipped in 11 points and a team-high five steals. Aaron Morgan finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting 10 rebounds. Morgan was a menace on defense as well, blocking three of Furman's shots in the victory.
Two of the hottest teams in the nation will battle in what should be a very entertaining game. While Kent State is undefeated, it's very tough for any squad to win on the road, especially against a quality opponent. Chattanooga can score and defend, utilizing both its starters and reserves. That level of depth should net them their sixth win in a row.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Chattanooga 79, Kent State 75
