Dec 4, 2002

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) - Antonio Gates scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half as Kent State won its 18th consecutive regular-season game with an 82-63 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night.

Kent State (3-0), with the longest regular-season winning streak in the nation, never trailed. Gates was held to just two points in the first half as Kent State built a 33-26 halftime lead.

But he scored the first four points of the second half and had five points in a 14-2 run midway through the second half as Kent State pulled ahead 64-50.

Rhode Island (2-2) pulled within 50-48 with 11:57 to play after Lazare Adingono scored eight consecutive points, but Kent State answered with three consecutive baskets by Eric Haut, who scored on a drive, a steal and layup and a putback.

Gates then hit a jump shot and a 3-pointer sandwiched around a Dustin Hellenga layup to make it 61-50. Haut, who hit a 3-pointer to put Kent State ahead 64-50 with 7:42 to play, finished with 21 points while Anthony Wilkins had 10.

Hellenga led Rhode Island with 26 and Adingono added 14.

Kent State, which shot 64 percent from the floor, opened the game with an 11-0 rebounding advantage and took early leads of 14-6 and 21-14.