KSU Tuscarawas vs. Miami Middletown Highlights (Video by Maggie Lampe)
The end result was good for the Kent State at Tuscarawas basketball team, but their game against Miami University Middletown had all the moves of a world championship chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. This time however, there was no surprise ending, no détente, as the Golden Eagles controlled a close game in the second half for a 95-83 win on Saturday in Founders Hall Gym.
The ThunderHawks struck first, grabbing a 5-0 lead before the Eagles took flight and cut the lead to 5-4 on two Malik Campbell free throws and a steal converted into a layup by Andre Leavell. The two teams matched baskets and were deadlocked at 11-11 with 14:35 left in the opening half as the winners managed to get untracked.
A Leavell stick back spotted the Navy and Gold to a 13-11 lead and sparked a 13-0 run. He added a 15-foot jumper to go along with two easy baskets at the rim by Arthur Jackson, a hoop by Jeremy Allen and a driving layup by Campbell, as the margin swelled to 24-11 at the 11:43 mark.
Moments later with the Eagles seemingly in the driver's seat, 26-16, MUM scored seven straight points and whittled the lead to 26-25. The Eagles answered with layups from Leavell and Campbell to forge ahead again (30-25). Leading 30-29, KSU went on a 7-0 break of their own to go up 37-29, but the Hawks made a counterattack and fought back to 41-37 as the half ended.
Out of the locker room Middletown put the Eagles in a critical position with a 7-0 spurt that gave them a 44-41 lead. It was the first time they had led since the 15:56 mark of the opening half as they held the hosts in check.
Campbell made a jumper with little time left on the shot clock and seconds later Leavell dribbled through the Hawks defense for another basket and a 45-44 Eagles lead. MUM responded and grabbed the lead back 46-45 with 16:44 to play, but it was the last time they would lead in the game and the closest they would get would be 51-50.
The Eagles turned up the defensive pressure in the final 20 minutes and forced the ThunderHawks into 19 turnovers which were converted into 22 KSU points. Despite the turnaround, the game seemed to hang in the balance until the final 3:43.
With an 81-77 cushion, the Eagles outpointed MUM 12-2 and finally found some breathing room. Allen helped deny a Hawks rally as he rained down two 3-pointers late in the shot clock and two strong plays at the rim by Leavell and Jackson helped put Middletown in checkmate.
Leavell made a steal and pushed the ball downcourt where he fielded it and dunked it home, while Jackson laid in a missed shot as the Eagles rode home outscoring the ThunderHawks 14-6 in the final minutes.
Five Golden Eagles scored in double figures, led by Leavell's double-double, 26-point, 13 rebound performance. Campbell scored 20 points as the duo combined to make 19/28 field goal attempts (69%). Tharp added 14 points, while Jackson and Allen came off the bench to score 12 and 10 points respectively on aggregate 9/13 shooting.
KSU Tusc is now 13-10 on the year and have now won 11 of their last 14 games.
The Eagles host Villa Maria College on Wednesday at 4 p.m. All tickets are $5 at the door.
RaShawn Robinson makes a pass off a dribble drive.
Malik Campbell and Jacob Hicks scramble for a loose ball. (Photos by Jason Keller)