KENT, Ohio — Arkansas State guard Rakeem Dickerson toed the free-throw line with a chance to draw the Red Wolves even with less than six minutes left against Kent State.
Dickerson couldn’t capitalize, and neither could ASU after fighting back from an eight-point second-half deficit behind 24 points from Ed Townsel in a 73-69 loss Saturday in front of a crowd of 2,325 at the M.A.C. Center.
Dickerson’s miss with 5:52 left was answered by guard Kellon Thomas’ three-pointer at the other end for Kent State (7-5), stretching its lead back to 64-60.
Roughly two minutes later, Thomas, who scored 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting off the bench, stretched the lead to 69-62 with a layup in transition with 3:44 to play.
The Red Wolves (6-5) pulled within 71-69 on forward Brandon Peterson’s free throws with 38 seconds left, but Kent State’s Chris Evans hit two free throws at the other end with six seconds left to make it a two-possession game.
Kent State, which shot 51 percent, was paced by 19 points from guard Randal Holt, while Evans added 16 inside for the Golden Flashes.
Five consecutive points from freshman Cameron Golden, who scored 15 points on 4 of 11 shooting, including two free throws with 16:57 left in the first half, put the Red Wolves in front 14-4.
Kent State answered over the next three minutes, reeling off an 8-0 spurt to draw within 14-12 on an Evans three with 13:40 left in the first half.
But the Golden Flashes closed the first half on a 9-0 run after trailing 34-31 with 2:04 until the break.
Kent State took a 36-34 lead on Kellon’s three-pointer with 1:04 left en route to a 40-34 margin.
Peterson, who had 9 points and 11 rebounds, helped ASU pull within 44-42 when he scored in the lane at 15:28 in the second half and was fouled by Mark Henniger.
But Peterson missed the free throw, and Holt hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession for a 47-42 lead.
Sports, Pages 33 on 12/23/2012