Kent Tusc vs. Penn Highlands Highlights (Video by Maggie Lampe)
Kent State Tuscarawas wrapped up their second straight pre-holiday win in as many days, as they downed visiting Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 83-44 in a Friday afternoon matinee. In their two victories, they outscored the opposition 186-93.
The Golden Eagles lead from the start sprinting to an 11-2 lead, while the Black Bear struggled to score against defensive pressure but finally got their second bucket seven mintues into the contest. The Eagles continued their offensive assault as Mike Huberty and Keenan Philpott found one other on consecutive backdoor plays for layups sandwiched around a Huberty triple to push the lead to 18-6 and force a timeout with 10:30 to play in the half.
After a quick hoop out of the huddle by the visitors, RaShawn Robinson added a basket and three free throws to go along with a Huberty long range bomb and two Andre Leavell freebies to surge ahead by 18 points (28-10). The largest lead of the first half was 22 points and the Navy and Gold held a decided 41-24 halftime advantage.
They continued to dominate in all phases of the game in the final 20 minutes, leading at one point by 46 points.
Leavell led the Golden Eagles with 18 points and was a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line. Braden Rostad converted on 3/4 three-point attempts and was 6/7 from the floor for 15 points, while Huberty finished with 13, sinking 5/7 action shots and making 3/4 from behind the arc. Gunnar Tharp was the fourth Golden Eagles player in double figures as he scored 12 with two triples.
The winners shot 46% from the floor (32/69), made 9/27 three-point shots (33%) and 10/12 (83%) from the charity stripe. They also held a 46-24 advantage in rebounds as Jacob Hicks and Javaz Mincy both cleared seven misses.
The Golden Eagles (5-8) will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 28th when they host former Buckeye Great Dennis Hopson's Lourdes University Gray Wolves. Tipoff is at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person at the door.
The bench erupts as Gunnar Tharp heads downcourt after he made a three-point bomb.
Andre Leavell lays in a shot after a perfectly executed inbounds pass.
Golden Eagles Javaz Mincy (25) and Keenan Philpott (5) clear a missed shot.
PHOTOS BY JASON KELLER