The Kent State Tusc basketball team opened the season against Penn State Shenango on Tuesday night, winning a foul-plagued contest 108-88 in Founders Hall Gymnasium.
The first half was a seesaw battle as the two teams traded baskets, until the Golden Eagles Arthur Jackson canned a three-ball from the right wing. With the Eagles trailing 32-31, Jackson's basket gave the Navy and Gold a lead they would never relinquish and the impetus to a 47-41 halftime lead.
Junior transfer, Kameron Shockley (Point Park University) sank three triples and ended the first-half with 19 points. The Nittany Lions did not have an answer for Shockley who played with a lot of emotion who converted an old-fashioned three-point-play as timed slipped away to halftime. His inside-out style of play stymied the Lions.
A total of 61 second half points by the Golden Eagles salted the game away, as the winners converted nearly half of their output (30) at the charity stripe. There were 57 personal fouls called on the night along with three technical fouls---the latter all whistled on the Nittany Lions.
For the game, Shockley led all scorers with 30 points. He was lights-out from field making 9/12 field goal attempts---including 4/6 from distance---converted on 8/13 free throws and led the team in rebounds with nine. London Cobbs was next with 17 on 6/10 field goal shooting and 5/6 at the charity stripe, DeJuan Lawrence had 15 points on 7/8 shooting and had three human-highlight reel dunks that brought the house to its feet, while Braden Rostad bombed in three tripes with 13 tallies and Vincent Roper came off the bench to score 10 points and snag eight rebounds. All 10 players on the Golden Eagles roster scored in the game.
The Golden Eagles shot 56% from the floor and outrebounded the Lions 48-33.
The Eagles host Penn State New Kensington at home on Saturday, November 6 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. KSU Tusc students are free with their university ID.
DeJuan Lawrence glides to the hoop with another spectacular dunk.
JaJuantae Young applies some lockdown defense.
London Cobbs splits two Shenango defenders for a basket. (Photos by Jason Keller)