Kent State men's basketball: Golden Flashes upset St. Bonaventure in NIT first round
Some are calling this year's National Invitation Tournament a second Atlantic 10 tourney because of the conference's six NIT participants.
Well, the Mid-American Conference announced its presence Tuesday when Kent State rallied past host St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 for a 75-56 NIT first-round victory.
The Golden Flashes (23-11) made 50% of their shots from deep to secure their first postseason victory since 2014-2015, when they reached the CIT quarterfinals.
The Flashes advanced to play the winner of Cal State Northridge and Stanford this weekend.
Not that things came easily at the Reilly Center.
Down 7-0, 13-2 and 22-12, the Flashes battled back to take the lead at halftime, relying largely on their strong post play.
After halftime, KSU caught fire from deep, making 8 of 11. A number of those 3-pointers came in transition as the Flashes capitalized on misses by the Bonnies to rattle off a 14-0 run early in the second half. That included Jalen Sullinger's nasty pull-up 3-pointer from deep in the left wing to put KSU up 35-31.
VonCameron Davis added back-to-back 3-pointers, one off a beautiful baseline drive-and-dish from Sullinger, as the Flashes pushed their lead to double digits.
KSU was in firm control from there, helped by its sizable advantage (46-29) on the glass. It didn't help St. Bonaventure that its rotation was down to six players because of injuries. The Bonnies (22-12) only went beyond those six players in the final minute when the game was clearly out of hand.
Seven players scored at least six points for the Golden Flashes, with Davis (14 points), Delrecco Gillespie (12), Sullinger (11) and Cli'ron Hornbeak (11) all in double digits. Hornbeak and Gillespie also dominated the glass with 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively, including three offensive boards apiece.
KSU also did a nice job contesting St. Bonaventure on its drives to the basket, holding the Bonnies to 34.4% shooting from the field.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: NIT men's basketball: Kent State upsets St. Bonaventure in opener
Read more at Yahoo Sports
-
NIT bracket 2025: Tournament schedule, dates, times as Georgia Tech, St. Bonaventure upset in first round
The Yellow Jackets and Bonnies were upset in the first NIT games TuesdayCBS Sports - 5h -
Kent State defeats Eastern Michigan 76-70
Led by Jalen Sullinger's 18 points, the Kent State Golden Flashes defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles 76-70ABC News - Mar. 8 -
Men's tournament 11 vs. 6 upset rankings: Is Missouri vulnerable in the first round?
No. 11 seeds have combined for 61 first-round victories in the men's basketball tournamentCBS Sports - 17h -
Jackets NIT bound, will host Jacksonville State in first round Tuesday
After finishing season strong, Georgia Tech will play postseason basketball for first time since 2021Yahoo Sports - 2d -
CBS analyst: Purdue basketball will be upset in the first round of March Madness
CBS analyst Seth Davis picked 13th-seed High Point to upset No. 4 Purdue in first round of NCAA TournamentYahoo Sports - 2d -
Penn State will not play in the NIT
Penn State's men's basketball season is officially over for the 2024-25 season.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Auburn basketball March Madness prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St Francis in the first round. Here's our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Men's Tournament 15 vs. 2 upset rankings: St. John's least likely No. 2 seed to lose
A No. 15 seed has knocked off a No. 2 seed in three of the last four men's basketball tournaments, so teams again should be on upset alert this yearCBS Sports - 1d -
St. Bonaventure vs. Duquesne prediction, odds: Atlantic 10 Tournament picks, March 13 bets by computer model
SportsLine's model simulated Duquesne vs. St. Bonaventure in the 2025 A-10 Conference Tournament second-round game on Thursday 10,000 timesCBS Sports - 6d -
VCU vs. St. Bonaventure odds, prediction, start time: 2025 A-10 Tournament picks, best bets from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for VCU Rams vs. St. Bonaventure Bonnies on Friday in the 2025 A-10 TournamentCBS Sports - 4d -
Red Flash shock the world: When will St. Francis play in the NCAA basketball tournament?
St. Francis is the only team from Pennsylvania to make the NCAA basketball tournament. Here's when and how you can watch the Red Flash.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Men's tournament 13 vs. 4 upset rankings: Is Purdue vulnerable to an early exit?
In the past seven years, No. 4 seeds have fallen victim to seven first-round upsetsCBS Sports - 1d -
Fayetteville State men's basketball wins dramatic NCAA Tournament opener in overtime
Fayetteville State men's basketball made history with its first-ever NCAA D2 Tournament win, beating Fairmont State in OT. Here's how it happened.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Oklahoma State basketball to host Wichita State in NIT bracket after missing March Madness
Oklahoma State basketball to play Wichita State at Gallagher-Iba in NIT bracket after missing March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Keiser University men's basketball advances to NAIA Round of 16 after upsetting William Woods
Keiser (26-5) will play Southern Oregon (22-10) on Friday at 4 p.m. in Kansas City in the round of 16.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket picks, Cinderella teams, upsets: Model simulates March Madness 10,000 times
SportsLine's college basketball model has called 24 first-round NCAA Tournament upsets by double-digit seedsCBS Sports - 3h -
Washburn men's basketball reaches NCAA Division II Elite 8 for first time since 2001
Behind a rocking Lee Arena, Washburn men's basketball defeated Minnesota State-Moorhead to reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 2001.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Where Providence basketball stands ahead of March Madness, NIT bracket reveal
Providence lost in first round of Big East Tournament. Here's where its March Madness resume stands.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Men's first-round betting odds, lines, spread and BPI
Every set of betting lines, spreads, totals and more betting odds for the first round of the 2025 men's NCAA tournament.ESPN - 1d -
How to watch 2025 Big Ten Men’s Basketball tournament: Schedule, bracket, streaming info, results
The 2025 Big Ten Men's Basketball tournament runs from Wednesday, March 12, through Sunday, March 16. Stream the first round on Peacock.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 11 -
Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in men's NCAA Tournament: March Madness 'never gets old'
It’s Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in March Madness to open its NCAA Tournament men’s bracket. Here’s what Oregon said about the first-round game.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Watch: Alabama State basketball advances in March Madness with miracle Hail Mary
The Alabama State Hornets men's basketball team has won its first NCAA Tournament game, thanks to a Hail Mary.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Florida vs Norfolk St matchup officially set. Time, date for March Madness 1st round game
What time does Florida basketball play Norfolk State in March Madness Round of 64? Here’s time, date, TV for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
KSHSAA state basketball 2025: Breaking down the Topeka-area in Thursday's action
The first round continued in the KSHSAA state basketball tournament on Thursday. Six teams from Shawnee County looked to advance to the semifinals.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Giant Killers: Predicting 10 women's March Madness early-round upsets
Looking for upsets in the women's March Madness bracket? Harvard, Vanderbilt and South Dakota State are looking to hang around.ESPN - 13h -
East Tennessee State baseball upsets No. 1 undefeated Vols
ETSU upsets No. 1 Tennessee baseball for the Vols' first loss in 2025.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Marquette falls out of AP men's basketball poll for first time in 50 weeks
The Golden Eagles' streak had been the fourth-longest in the country after Houston, Tennessee and Purdue.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Alabama State basketball roars back to stun Saint Francis in March Madness: On to Round of 64
Amarr Knox hit a last-second shot as Alabama State basketball stunned Saint Francis in the First Four of March Madness. Up next: Auburn.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
When will the NIT bracket be revealed?
Penn State is expected to receive an invite to the NIT. Here is when the bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Michigan State women's basketball gets 7-seed in March Madness, will play Harvard
Michigan State women's basketball (21-9) will be a 7-seed in the NCAA tournament and face Harvard in the first round.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Michigan women's basketball a 6-seed in March Madness, will play Iowa State or Princeton
Michigan women's basketball (22-10) will be a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament and face the winner of Iowa State and Princeton in the first round.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Marquette basketball March Madness predictions: Projecting where Golden Eagles could land
The Golden Eagles head into Selection Sunday at 23-10 after losing to St. John's in the Big East tournament semifinals.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Most likely upsets in women's March Madness? Bracket predictions for surprise teams
The women's NCAA Tournament is here. Here's a prediction at which teams could surprise the field with first-round March Madness upsets:Yahoo Sports - 2d -
UConn men’s basketball earns No. 8 seed in West Region, to meet Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament first round
STORRS – The path to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament title is a bit overgrown and rugged, having not been walked in over half a century. John Wooden’s UCLA teams won seven national ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Centerville edges Deubrook Area, only high seed to win on opening day of State B girls tourney
No. 5 Bennett County, No. 6 Sanborn Central-Woonsocket and No. 7 Dell Rapids St. Mary pull upsets on opening day of State B girls basketball tourneyYahoo Sports - 5d -
Colorado State men's basketball fights off Nevada to reach Mountain West semifinals
It was an ugly, grinder of a basketball game but Colorado State kept Nevada at arms length to advance to the Mountain West men's basketball semifinalsYahoo Sports - 5d -
Get to know the men's basketball teams headed to Milwaukee for March Madness
These are the 10 teams ticketed for Milwaukee (or for Dayton, with a chance to play in Milwaukee) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Oklahoma State women's basketball will face South Dakota State to open March Madness
It’s Oklahoma State women’s basketball vs. South Dakota State in March Madness to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Here’s what to know about the first-round game in Storrs, Conn.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions: Picks, scouting reports for all first-round games (and upsets, too)
Here's what you need to know about every first-round game, including Isaac Trotter's slate of predictionsCBS Sports - 17h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
How to watch Uruguay vs Argentina live: Stream link, TV, team news, prediction
Can Messi-less Argentina put themselves on the brink of World Cup qualification?Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Badgers Wire staff predictions for Wisconsin basketball in the 2025 NCAA Tournament
The Badgers Wire staff got together to make predictions for Wisconsin's 2025 NCAA Tournament fateYahoo Sports - 16m -
Sotiris Silaidopoulos: The Greek Coach Making History in European Football
Sotiris Silaidopoulos has quietly built an impressive reputation in European football.A former player turned coach, he has already achieved multiple historic milestones – winning the UEFA Youth ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
What time is the Xavier vs. Texas game? How to watch, stream March Madness First Four game
March Madness continues Wednesday with a First Four matchup between the Xavier Musketeers and Texas Longhorns. Here's how to watch.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
NFL free agency grades: Do Cowboys, 49ers, Falcons warrant getting an F?
Wednesday marks one week since the start of NFL’s 2025 league year. This is the perfect moment to grade every club’s approach to free agency.Yahoo Sports - 22m
More in Sports
-
Predicting the Premier League stretch, from Champions League race to relegation
With the just nine matchdays left in the 2024-25 Premier League season, how will things shake out for Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and others? Let's predict how the final stretch plays out.ESPN - 9m -
When can Liverpool win the Premier League title?
Liverpool have built up a 12-point lead at the top of the table. How early could the championship be sealed?ESPN - 9m -
Did the Luka trade actually make the Lakers' defense better? Inside L.A.'s elite run
The Lakers, with Doncic and 40-year-old LeBron James, are suddenly one of the NBA's top defenses. Will it stay that way?ESPN - 9m -
NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stand with less than a month left
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, let's see where all 30 teams stack up.ESPN - 9m -
How to watch Uruguay vs Argentina live: Stream link, TV, team news, prediction
Can Messi-less Argentina put themselves on the brink of World Cup qualification?Yahoo Sports - 13m