Senior Jimond Ivey led all scorers with 21 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double as he completed an all-around performance with two steals, one assist and one blocked shot.
Junior Daniel Utomi followed with a 14-point effort on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor which included a 3-of-5 showing from deep. Utomi added a steal and a blocked shot, while junior Deng Riak anchored the Zips stifling defense. Riak recorded three of the Zips five blocked shots and grabbed nine rebounds.
Sophomore Loren Cristian Jackson rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points,
The Zips won the battle of the boards 41-32.
In the first half, Utomi started the scoring with a 3-ball from the top of the key, coupled with a pair of floaters in the lane by Cheese and Jackson that contributed to the Zips 7-3 advantage by the first media break.
The Zips continued to play with the lead as Cheese hit another shot in the paint and Ivey struck from deep, giving Akron a 12-3 lead at the 11:56 mark.
The Zips (13-8, 5-3 MAC) allowed only one field goal in first 8:29, and increased the lead to 10 points at 15-5. However, the Bobcats (11-10, 3-6 MAC) used an 11-4 run to claw back into the game capped by a 3-pointer by Gavin Block. With 6:00 remaining in the half, Akron led 19-16.
Ivey ended the run with a lay-in, and the two teams traded buckets until he connected with an old-fashioned 3-point play to give Akron a 30-20, 10-point advantage with 1:05 showing on the clock. Ohio scored the last bucket and Akron lead by eight points at the break, 30-22.
The Zips defense caused eight takeaways thanks to five steals, and Akron owned an edge on the glass 20-15. Akron committed seven turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Akron used a 15-8 run out of the locker room to push the lead to 15 points, 45-30, which ended on a Utomi triple. Utomi buried another long-distance bucket and Banks added a trifecta for a 51-30 lead at the under-12 stoppage.
The Zips followed with another scoring burst, fueled by an Ivey dunk. Akron then outscored the home team 11-2 which ended with a two-hand flush from Riak.
Banks and Utomi both contributed two-point field goals, while Ivey hit from deep as UA established its largest lead of the game at 26 points, 58-32, at the mid-point.
Akron cruised through the last 10 minutes of the game and fought-off any attempt of a comeback by the Bobcats. Jason Carter was the only Ohio player in double figures, finishing with 18 points and adding 10 rebounds for a double-double day.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)