In a game that featured 27 lead changes and 12 tied scores, Akron (12-15, 5-10 MAC) called . . .
Bowling Green's Dylan Frye had a pretty good look from long distance in the closing seconds but his try missed the mark, and Demajeo Wiggins couldn't get the putback to fall.
Akron junior Lucas Smith corralled the loose ball and split a two-shot foul opportunity to give Akron an 81-79 advantage.
Utomi led Akron's scoring efforts with 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a 4-of-7 effort from deep and 9-of-10 showing from the free throw line. Utomi added five rebounds, three assists, and three steals to the box score as two other Zips followed with double-digit performances.
Graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier finished the game with 14 points, four assists, and a steal, while Ivey cashed in with 12 points and added a career-best three blocked shots to four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. In addition, Smith notched a career-high nine points.
The Zips shot 52.1 percent from the field (25-of-48) and 41.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (7-of-17) while connecting with 80 percent of their shots from the free throw line (24-of-30). Akron won the turnover battles 11-14 and recorded seven steals compared to the Falcons four.
Bowling Green (16-12, 7-8 MAC) had four double-digit scorers, led by Frye's two dozen points. He buried 8-of-13 of his shots from the floor, including a 5-of-7 performance from downtown. Wiggins followed with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Justin Turner collected 15 points and Antwon Lillard chipped in 11 before fouling out.
The Falcons won the battle of the boards 34-26 while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor (28-of-59) and 30.4 percent from deep (7-of-23). Bowling Green added a 69.6 percent effort from the charity stripe (16-of-23).
In the first half, Akron limited the Falcons to 18.2 percent shooting from behind the 3-point arc (2-of-11) despite a 51.6 effort from the floor (16-of-31). UA battled to a three-point lead at the break, 41-38, on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor (14-of-24).
NEXT:
Both teams return to action Saturday. The Zips host Miami (2 p.m.), while Bowling Green visits Kent State (6 p.m.).
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)