KENT – Ohio used a 15-4 run late in the second half to come away with a 59-53 victory against Kent State to open Mid-American Conference play Wednesday night at the MAC Center.

Nick Kellogg had 19 points, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Bobcats (11-3). Despite foul trouble, Maurice Ndour had nine points and five rebounds, while Travis Wilkins scored eight points and grabbed seven boards.

Devareaux Manley paced the Golden Flashes (9-5) with 13 points, while Mark Henninger had 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Leading scorers Kris Brewer and Derek Jackson were held to six and three points, respectively, and combined to shoot 3 of 22 as Kent State shot just 28.3 percent as a team.

Manley hit a 3-pointer to give Kent State its biggest lead, 42-38, at the 10:43 mark in the second half, but after warming up slightly after a cold-shooting first half, the Golden Flashes struggled offensively again the rest of the way.

Ndour and Kellogg scored consecutive baskets to tie the game before Kent State took its final lead, 44-42, on a Henninger layup. Wilkins struck for a 3-pointer to put Ohio on top and Jon Smith added a free throw. Khaliq Spicer’s dunk with 6:45 remaining tied the game one last time at 46.

Wilkins connected on a shot from deep and Ndour threw down a tomahawk dunk and later hit a short jumper to put Ohio up seven at the 2:21 mark. A Hemminger free throw finally ended a nearly five-minute scoreless streak for Kent State, but the Golden Flashes got no closer than four as the Bobcats closed out the game at the foul line.

In a defensive first half, Kent State led 13-10 with 8:34 remaining but Ohio took over after that, going on a 14-4 run to move in front by seven and the Bobcats took a 26-19 lead into the break.

Ohio did not shoot especially well at 39.3 percent, including 28.6 percent on 3-point tries, but Kent State was just 4 of 22 from deep.

The Golden Flashes had a 42-40 rebounding advantage but had more turnovers, 12-10. Ohio held a 24-18 edge in points in the paint and scored 14 points off turnovers to seven by Kent State.

Despite a 2-of-13 shooting performance, Brewer contributed with seven assists and six rebounds.

With Ricardo Johnson out with a knee injury, T.J. Hall had seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Ohio hosts Akron at 6 p.m. Sunday in The Convo.