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Akron, Kent State basketball teams open season; Zips women, Flashes men win
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- Akron, Kent State basketball teams open season; Zips women, Flashes men win
The University of Akron and Kent State basketball teams opened their 2024-2025 seasons Monday with games in the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge.
Both women's teams played at home and the men's teams were out of state.
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Here is a breakdown of each game:
Akron's coach Ryan Gensler directs his team in the first half against Kent State on Saturday Jan. 20, 2024, in Akron.
Kam'Ren Rhodes leads Akron to women's basketball win over Georgia State
Junior Kam'Ren Rhodes scored 25 points and had five assists in her Akron debut to lead the Zips to an 81-73 win over Georgia State at Rhodes Arena.
Rhodes, a transfer from Illinois, made 11 of 12 free throws and 6 of 15 shots from the field, including 2 of 6 on 3s.
"The biggest thing we work on is togetherness and knowing each other inside and out," Rhodes said on GoZips.com. "When we have that, we are at our best."
University of Akron guard Alexus Mobley puts up a shot in the paint against an Oakland defender on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.
Junior Maddie Vejsicky scored 14 points in her Akron debut after previously playing at Virginia Tech and San Diego. Senior Alexus Mobley contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, senior Zakia Rasheed added 10 points and four assists and redshirt senior Shelbee Brown had seven points and 11 rebounds.
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Akron overcame deficits of 25-14 at the end of the first quarter and 42-34 at halftime. The Zips opened the third quarter on a 14-0 run and led 57-49 through three quarters.
"Super proud of our team and their effort," Akron coach Ryan Gensler said on GoZips.com. "We talk all year about responding. ... We were tested through some adversity early in the game and then certainly tested when they made their run. That was a challenge for us to respond both times, and I thought we responded back to the systems that we have implemented."
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson shoots over Kent State guard Giovanni Santiago during the second half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Cleveland.
Akron men's basketball falls in overtime at Arkansas State
Freshman guard Sharron Young scored a team-high 15 points in his collegiate debut, but Akron lost 80-75 in overtime to host Arkansas State. Young made 6 of 8 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
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Reigning MAC Tournament champion Akron trailed 40-30 at halftime and rallied for a 72-72 tie to force overtime.
Junior Josiah Harris added 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in his Akron debut and redshirt junior Nate Johnson chipped in 11 points and three steals. Senior Shammah Scott scored eight points. Akron newcomers James Okonkwo (five points and 12 rebounds) and Isaiah Gray (four points and seven assists) also made an impact.
Kent State forward VonCameron Davis drives against Toledo forward Javan Simmons during the second half of a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Cleveland.
VonCameron Davis guides Kent State to men's basketball win over Louisiana Lafayette
Redshirt senior VonCameron Davis scored 17 points to lead Kent State a 70-66 win over host Louisiana Lafayette. Davis made 13 of 15 free throws and 2 of 5 shots from the field.
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KSU newcomers Morgan Safford and Cian Medley also gave coach Rob Senderoff quality minutes. Safford, a graduate student, scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Medley, a sophomore, added 11 points.
Senior Jalen Sullinger scored six points and senior Cli'Ron Hornbeak added four points and five rebounds for KSU, which led 30-27 at halftime.
Kent State's Jenna Batsch shoots over Northern Illinois forward Brooke Blumenfeld during the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Cleveland.
James Madison spoils Kent State women's basketball season opener
Sophomore center Riley Rismiller scored a game-high 20 points, but reigning MAC Tournament champion Kent State lost 67-56 to James Madison at the M.A.C. Center.
Rismiller, who previously played at Dayton, made 14 of 15 free throws and 3 of 5 shots from the field.
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Freshman Journey Hildebrand, a Brunswick High School graduate, scored nine points in her KSU debut. Senior Jenna Batsch, redshirt junior Kaley Perkins and junior Tatiana Thomas added eight points apiece.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips, Kent State Golden Flashes open 2024-25 basketball seasons
