Balanced attack lifts Kent State, 82-67

Miami and Ohio also earned MAC victories.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

KENT — Rodriguez Sherman came off the bench to score 16 points and Kent State put five players in double figures and shot 52 percent from the field Saturday to beat Northern Illinois, 82-67.

Al Fisher also scored 16 points for the Golden Flashes (19-5, 8-2 Mid-American Conference), who led by as many as 27 points in the first half and then coasted the rest of the way.

Mike Scott added 13 points, Chris Singletary 11 and Rashad Woods 10.

Darion Anderson had 15 points and Shaun Logan 11 for the Huskies (5-17, 2-8).

The final margin was the closest Northern Illinois had been since late in the first half.

The Golden Flashes outscored the Huskies 45-6 behind the arc, hitting 15 of 24 3-pointers to just 2 of 11 for Northern Illinois.

Miami 68,
Cent. Michigan 64

OXFORD — Michael Bramos scored 32 points and Tim Pollitz hit two clutch free throws with 8 seconds left to help Miami (Ohio) hold off Central Michigan.

A layup by Kenny Hayes, who had 17 points, put the RedHawks (12-10, 6-4 Mid-American Conference) ahead to stay at 62-61 with 1:09 left. They had trailed by 10 points in the first half.

Pollitz blocked a shot by Giordan Watson, but the ball went to Central Michigan’s Marcus Van, who was fouled and missed both free throws with 45 seconds left.

Bramos and Tyler Dierkers each hit foul shots to give Miami a 64-61 lead. Hayes then made two more foul shots before Watson hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to cut the lead to 66-64.

But Pollitz was fouled and hit both shots with 8 seconds left to clinch the win. Robbie Harman led Central (10-12, 5-5) with 18 points, with Watson adding 16. The Chippewas outscored Miami 59-44 from the field, but the RedHawks were 24 of 32 on free throws to Central’s 5 of 10.

Ohio 57, W. Michigan 54

ATHENS — Leon Williams scored Ohio’s final seven points, including three free throws in the last 42 seconds, to lead the Bobcats past Western Michigan.

Williams, who totaled 26 points and 15 rebounds, hit a jumper with 3 minutes left to pull the Bobcats (16-7, 7-3 Mid-American Conference) even at 52. Williams then hit a pair of foul shots with 1:19 remaining for the lead before David Kool tied it again with a field goal with 52 seconds left.

Williams was fouled with 42 seconds and hit the first of two free throws. After Kool missed a 3-pointer for the Broncos (13-10, 7-3), Williams came up with the rebound and was fouled with 12 seconds left. He made both shots for a 57-54 lead.

Kool and Andre Ricks then missed 3-pointers in the closing seconds for the Broncos.

Kool led Western Michigan with 17 points, with Joe Reitz adding 12 and Derek Fracalossi 10 points.