AKRON, OHIO – The Akron Zips used an 11-2 run late in the second half to hold off a pesky group from Appalachian State, defeating the Mountaineers 94-89 Saturday night at Rhodes Arena
Akron (5-2) shot 56.7 percent from the field and had a decisive rebounding edge 36-29 while remaining . . .
“A really good win tonight.” Zips head coach John Groce said. “I thought it would be a real challenge on the defensive end.”
Graduate student Malcolm Duvivier led UA with 24 points, going six-of-nine from three point range. He was one of four Zips in double figures. Sophomore Daniel Utomi had 18 points with 10 rebounds and three assists. Junior Jimond Ivey and sophomore Emmanuel Olojapoke each had 15 before fouling out.
“We made big mistakes in the game and that cost us dearly.” ASU head man John Fox said.
Senior Griffin Kinney led all scorers in the contest with 28 points, going 9-of-13 from the floor. Junior Ronshad Shabazz added 26 with four boards, five assists, and a steal while freshman Justin Forrest had 13 also with five helpers and a theft.
The visitors from the Sun Belt conference hit four of their first six shots to open an eight point lead just four minutes into the game. However, the Zips fought back and gained a five-point lead at 24-19 at the 9:32 mark on a three from the top of the key by Ivey.
UA then started to pull away, gaining its largest lead of the opening half at 10 points, 47-37, on a layup by freshman Jayden Sayles. Akron led by nine at halftime 37-28.
At the start of the second half, ASU used an 8-2 spurt to close to within three 51-48 on a right wing jumper by Shabazz, who had 18 post-intermission points.
After the Zips pushed the lead out to eight, 59-51, on a three by Ivey, the Mountaineers went on a 20-6 run to take their last lead of the game 73-68 with 6:45 remaining on a pair of free throws by Kinney.
After a key 11-2 run by the Zips, The Mountaineers gained their final lead of the game (77-76) on two more Kinney charity tosses with 4:30 remaining.
UA pulled away down the stretch, opening as much as a nine-point lead 88-79 with 50.7 seconds remaining on a reverse layup by freshman Eric Parrish before winning by five.
The Zips complete this three game stand next Saturday when the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State come to town.