Deon J. Edwin and the Kent State Golden Flashes had to settle for a fourth place finish in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic after a 75-69 defeat by Penn State University on Wednesday December 23, 2015. Photo: Provided

Deon J. Edwin seen here playing for 2014 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League champions, Bayside Blazers. Photo: VINO/File

VIslander Edwin and his teammates saw a six-point lead with nine minutes to play disappear before Penn State went on a decisive 14-2 run to pull out the victory over the Golden Flashes at the Orleans Arena last night.

Jimmy Hall scored the first seven points of the game to give the Flashes the start they were looking for after falling behind 10-2 on Tuesday against No. 18 SMU. Penn State eventually tied the game at 31-31 and later scored the final seven points of the half to lead 42-37 after 20 minutes.

Kent State fought back in the second half and regained the lead, 51-50, on a three-point shot by Chris Ortiz. The senior forward would score the Flashes' next six points as well to take a 57-51 lead with 9:06 to play.

Penn State came right back with a 14-2 run to lead 65-59 and never trailed the rest of the way.

Edwin played nine minutes went 1 for 1 from field goal range and 3 for 3 from the free throw line for a total of five points.

In the semi-final, the Golden Flashes suffered a 90-74 loss to Southern Methodist University.

Kent State showed fight and stayed right with an SMU team that is one of only five remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I college basketball despite being plagued by turnovers and struggles at the foul line. The Flashes committed a season-high 117 turnovers, which led to 20 Mustang points, and shot just 17-for-28 from the free throw line (60.7 percent).

Edwin played 7 minutes, going two for two from the field, both of which were “3” pointers and missing two free throw attempts.

The Golden Flashes will head to North Carolina A&T next Wednesday, December 30, 2015 to close out the calendar year.