Air Jordan
Mincy scores 27 points in team's 7th straight win
Doug Gulasy
In Jordan Mincy's nearly four-year career at Kent State, he has rarely - if ever - been seen as a scorer.
The senior guard scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Kent State men's basketball team to its seventh straight victory, a 64-51 decision over Ohio at the M.A.C. Center.
In shattering his previous career high of 15 points - set Nov. 11, 2006, against IUPUI - Mincy had a nearly perfect shooting night. He shot 9-of-10 from the field, draining all five of his 3-point attempts, and making 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.
"That might have been as good a single-game performance that's been played in this building that I've been a part of," Kent State coach Geno Ford said. "I mean, you shoot 9-for-10 - it was unreal."
When he was finally lifted from the game, with 46.1 seconds remaining and the Flashes leading 63-48, Mincy received a standing ovation from the 2,987 fans in attendance and a bear hug from teammate Mike McKee.
"I love Kent State's fans," Mincy said. "It was kind of heart-taking. I kind of took it to heart. It was kind of a special moment; I'm just thankful (for) Kent State fans and how they come out (and) support us."
The Flashes (15-11, 8-4 Mid-American Conference) got off to a slow start in the game, falling behind 17-7 midway through the first half.
Then Mincy asserted himself. The senior guard scored the first eight points of a 15-1 run that gave the Flashes a 22-18 lead.
Though Ohio (13-12, 6-6 MAC) rallied to take a 29-25 lead into halftime, Mincy scored 12 points in the first half.
Ohio scored five of the first six points of the second half to take a 34-26 lead with 16:18 remaining, but that would be the Bobcats' high-water mark.
The Flashes went on a 16-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer and a layup by Mincy, to take a 42-34 lead with 9:51 left to play. Following an Ohio 3-point play, Kent State responded with an 8-1 run to effectively put the game away.
In that second spurt, Mincy hit the shot that defined what kind of night it was for him.
With the Flashes up 46-38, Mincy drove into the lane and was bumped by an Ohio defender. As he lost his balance, Mincy threw up a circus shot.
The win enabled the Flashes to start their second tour of the MAC East on a high note. In their first five divisional games this season, the Flashes went 1-4.
