KENT – Ohio slowed the highest scoring team in the Mid-American Conference, but it could not produce enough offense while shooting 29.7% in a 72-57 loss to Kent State on Tuesday night at the MAC Center.

The Bobcats held the Golden Flashes to 31% shooting in the first half, but they finished strong to put away the Bobcats late.

Aidan Hadaway had 13 points to lead Ohio (11-11, 5-5 MAC) as it lost for the fourth time in five games to drop back to .500. JJ Kelly scored 10 points with five rebounds.

Morgan Safford (18 points, 10 rebounds), Delrecco Gillespie (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Magnus Entemann (12 points, 10 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the Golden Flashes (16-5, 7-2 MAC) as they had a 51-31 rebounding advantage. Cian Medley (13 points, eight assists) was just shy of a double-double.

Despite its slow start, Ohio hung around for most of the game. It trailed 28-24 at halftime and tied the score at 48 on a Hadaway tip-in with 7:35 remaining. After Kent State regained the lead, Hadaway made two free throws that had the Bobcats trailing just 56-52 with 4:14 to go.

But the Golden Flashes scored seven straight points in a one-minute span to essentially put it away. Entemann made two technical foul free throws, followed by a quick Safford layup and then a Medley 3-pointer to make it 63-52. Kent State maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

The first half was close most of the way through until a late surge by the Golden Flashes put them up 28-21. Ajay Sheldon hit a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game at halftime.

Gillespie made a jumper that pushed Kent State’s lead to 41-30 with 14 minutes to go. Ohio straight points, capped by a Kiir Kuany 3-pointer, and then after a Gillespie dunk, got another Kuany 3-pointer to make it 43-40 before Hadaway eventually tied it.

Ohio leading scorer Jackson Paveletzke scored just six points on 2-of-6 shooting but had a team-leading eight rebounds. Javan Simmons scored nine points and added five rebounds.

While Kuany provide a spark, the rest of the bench went just 2-of-14 shooting.

Kent State played without Rob Whaley Jr., who was averaging 12.3 points per game.

The Bobcats remain on the road to face Buffalo at 2 p.m. Saturday at Alumni Arena.