It was a highly anticipated rematch that pitted USCAA D1, No. 2 ranked Bryant & Stratton Buffalo (9-5) against USCAA D2, No. 6 ranked Kent State Tuscarawas (12-5), this time on the Bobcats home floor in the City of Good Neighbors.
Both teams hit the floor with mini three-game winning streaks, but the Golden Eagles arrived with the satisfaction of having a 21-point, 103-82, victory over the Bobcats pinned on their war chests since Dec. 2, 2022. That win propelled the Eagles into the Top 10 rankings and slipped BSB to No. 3 in the early season rankings.
Despite a highly competitive first 20 minutes, the Bobcats were anything but hospitable in the final half, breaking open a close game by limiting the Eagles to 34 points while scoring 56 tallies for a 93-71 win.
The Golden Eagles seemed ready and scored the first eight points of the game, not allowing the hosts a basket until the 17:50 mark of the first half. The navy and gold pressed on as London Cobbs tallied 10 points that helped them to a 16-2 lead with 16:02 still left in the opening half.
That lead stood up until the Eagles committed eight turnovers in 13 possessions over a 12-minute span as the Bobcats drew to within 30-29. A three-ball tied the game at 32-32 before a ZaMar Harris triple and a driving basket by JaJuantae Young gave the Eagles a 37-34 advantage, but another Eagles miscue led to a game tying (37-37) triple by BSB as the half ended.
Bryant & Stratton mirrored the Eagles fast start of the game and scored the first eight points of the second half to grab a 45-37 lead. A DeJuan Lawrence free throw broke the string with 16:30 left, but the Eagles did not score their first field goal until there was 14:48 left on a Kameron Shockley layup even though they only trailed 49-42.
Their next basket did not come until the 8:26 mark on a Kyle Shockley backdoor lay in. The Eagles now found themselves down 62-47, and during the nearly six and one-half minute drought they were very inefficient from the free throw line connecting on just 3/12 chances as the game slipped away.
With 6:04 left in the game the Eagles fell behind 72-54, as they lost touch with BSB and with 3:16 left they were even further behind. The Bobcats swamped the Eagles with a 12-3 run and led by 27 points (84-57).
It was a very ineffective day at the free throw stripe for the Eagles who converted on just 19/34 (56%) of their opportunities.
London Cobbs led KSU Tusc in scoring with 14 points and DeJuan Lawrence contributed his eighth double-double of the season scoring 13 points and ripping away 18 rebounds. Kameron Shockley scored nine and grabbed 10 boards.
With the start of Spring Semester classes on Tuesday, the Golden Eagles will travel to Miami Middletown on Saturday, Jan. 21 to take on the Thunderhawks at 3 pm.
Kyle Shockley works the ball against BSB fullcourt pressure.
DeJuan Lawrence cleared 18 rebounds against the Bobcats and Kameron Shockley grabbed 10 errant shots.
James Roundtree fights for control of a rebound.
(Photos by Patty Tolloti)