STANFORD, Calif.– Kent State Men's Basketball (24-11) defeated the Stanford University Cardinal by a final score of 77-75 on the road on Sunday evening to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. Jalen Sullinger dropped a career high 34 points. Delrecco Gillespie tallied double-double number six of his season and career.
Kent State got out to an early lead putting pressure on the Cardinal with a 17-12 run in the opening eight minutes. Jalen Sullinger quickly hit double-digits leading the Flashes' offensive onslaught along with VonCameron Davis in the first half. Kent State built a 10-point lead before Stanford erased it with a 9-0 run of their own. Kent State took that blow before heating up again in the final minutes of the first half to take a 43-34 lead into the locker room after 20. Stanford came out of halftime hot retaking the lead and battling Kent State to a 49-49 tie with just under 12 minutes to play. The Flashes continued to keep their foot on the gas capitalizing on every missed shot from the Cardinal. Gillespie, Sullinger, Jamal Sumlin and Cli'Ron Hornbeak ended up making the key stops and shots to push Kent State ahead by seven in the final minute. Stanford clung to life in the shrinking the Kent State lead to two before the final buzzer.
With this win Kent State marked their first victory over a power conference opponent since Dec. 21, 2018, when they defeated Oregon State University 66-63 (then a member of the pre-realignment PAC-12). The Flashes also marked their first win over an ACC team since Nov. 27, 2004, when they defeated Florida State University 69-59. Additionally, the Blue and Gold have now advanced to the NIT quarterfinals for the second time straight time last doing so in March of 2011. Sullinger's 34 points were the highest total of his career as he went 11-22, 7-10 from three, and 5-5 from the line. Gillespie's 14 rebounds and 10 points mark not only his sixth double-double, but his second in a row.
Kent State will now travel to Loyola University Chicago for the quarterfinal round. The Golden Flashes and Ramblers will tipoff on Wednesday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. eastern time inside Gentile Arena.
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