Kent State player forgets team has lead, fouls to give Akron game-sealing free throws in MAC Championship

With 6.2 seconds left in Saturday’s MAC Tournament championship, Kent State took a 61-60 lead over Akron. The Zips had one timeout remaining and were getting back down the court to, presumably, take it and set up a play to try and win the game.

As they did, Julius Rollins fouled Greg Tribble, apparently thinking Kent State was losing. That led to the game-sealing free throws, and Akron came away with the 62-61 victory.

By winning the MAC championship, the Zips will now head to the NCAA Tournament with a 24-10 overall record, including 13-5 in league play. Kent State, meanwhile, fell to 17-17 with an 8-10 record in MAC action, and its NCAA tournament hopes went away.

Kent State player fouls in final seconds, forgets Golden Flashes have the lead. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/Yhgm3FuV2W

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) March 17, 2024

Kent State coach Rob Senderoff addressed the mistake after the game, stressing he doesn’t think Rollins deserves the blame for the loss. In fact, he said he probably should’ve used his final timeout to get the defense in place.

“As I told the team, I should have called a timeout there,” Senderoff said, via the AP’s Tom Withers. “I do not blame Julius. There’s 100 plays in the game and that was just one of them.”

During a private conversation with him away from the team, though, Senderoff had a message for Rollins.

“Just to answer, because I know you’ll all ask, the thing that I told him – I didn’t tell the whole team, I told him … right now, it’s probably the worst thing that’s ever happened to him,” Senderoff said. “If it’s the worst thing that ever happens to you when you’re 50 years old like I am, you’ve lived a pretty charmed life. Tomorrow, the sun will come up. It’ll be a little cloudy for me and our guys, but the sun’ll come up tomorrow.”

Ali Ali led the way for Akron with 18 points as the Zips struggled from the field, shooting 39.6% in the victory. Enrique Freeman also had a big night with 17 points and nine rebounds while going 6-for-10 from the free throw line.

On the Kent State side, Voncameron Davis all scorers with 21 points and Jalen Sullinger added 19 to keep the Golden Flashes in the game. Sullinger also had a team-high eight rebounds.

Now, Akron will await its fate in the NCAA Tournament after clinching the MAC’s automatic bid. On3’s James Fletcher III projected the Zips to be a No. 14 seed in his updated Bracketology on Saturday afternoon, and the full reveal show will be Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.