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Junior guard Tyler Cheese led all players in both points and rebounds, registering a career-high 20-point, 12-rebound performance for his first career double-double.
Ivey made an impact on both ends of the court, scoring 15 points while adding four rebounds, four assists and energizing the Zips with numerous hustle plays. Sophomore guard Loren Cristian Jackson tallied 12 points to round out the double-figure scoring for Akron, while junior guard Channel Banks added eight points for the Zips.
With Ivey leading the way, Cheese attacking the basket and Banks connecting from long range, Akron was able to fend off numerous Central Michigan rallies down the stretch.
The final push came when the Chippewas close to within two, 58-56, on a pair of free throws by senior guard Larry Austin with 1:41 left. A layup by Cheese, followed by a turnover and another layup by the junior guard boosted the lead to six and the Zips were able to hang on for the victory.
The Zips (11-8, 3-3 MAC) converted three 3-pointers post intermission after making just two triples in the first half and controlled the glass for much of the night, outrebounding the Chippewas 46-41 thanks to 10 rebounds from junior center Deng Riak and Cheese's effort.
One of the game's crucial stretches came midway through the second half after the Chippewas (14-5, 3-3 MAC) closed to within two, 38-36, on a layup by junior guard Kevin McKay. However, McKay missed the free throw with a chance to complete a three-point play and Akron was able to extend its lead to as many as eight points as the half wore on.
The contest unfolded much like the two teams' first matchup, played at Mt. Pleasant just 14 days ago, when the Zips held Central Michigan to 30 first-half points and went to the locker room at the half with a small lead.
This time, it was a 29-22 Akron edge, buoyed by a buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper on the left baseline by Ivey to counter a long 3-pointer by junior forward David DiLeo to bring the Chippewas within five, 27-22.
Much like the first matchup, the Chippewas inched back into the game in the second half. While they weren't able to match their 64.3-percent second-half shooting from that earlier contest, they were able to vastly improve their shooting percentage in the second half, making 48.4 percent of their looks in the latter 20 minutes.
Austin led Central Michigan with 19 points and senior guard Shawn Roundtree added 11 in defeat.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)