AKRON, OHIO – The Akron Zips picked up their sixth consecutive win Wednesday night as they used a 20-2 run spanning both halves and shot 71 percent from the field in the second half to key a 95-41 win over the Adrian College Bulldogs at Rhodes Arena.
With the victory, Akron (6-1) extended its home winning streak to 21 games overall, 11 straight against non-conference opposition, and has not lost to a Division III opponent since December, 1980 to Wittenberg.
“Our young kids are . . .
Junior guard Noah Robotham led UA with 17 points. Junior Antino Jackson had 15 markers, going three-of-four from three-point range.
Adrian (2-3) suffered its third consecutive loss. It played one other Division I in the early season -- an exhibition game at Detroit – and stayed close for most of the game before the Titans pulled away in the second half, 99-69.
Junior Devante Harris was the only Bulldog in double figures, tying Robotham for game high honors with 17.
UA flexed its muscles right from the start as it opened a 13-2 lead, fueled by three triples from beyond the arc.
However, the Bulldogs, who play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and are located near the border between Ohio and Michigan, went on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 13-9 on a three from the left arc by Harris.
The game stayed relatively close until late in the first half with the Zips leading 26-17 at the 6:25 mark. The home team finished the period going on an 18-2 spurt to lead 44-21 at halftime.
UA built its lead by shooting 51.7 percent from the field in the first half 15-of-29), while Adrian connected on just 8-of-23 from the floor.
Even though they were leading, Dambrot was not pleased with their performance “I was not happy with the first half except for the final three minutes. So I let them have it at halftime.”
The game was then put out of reach at the start of the second half thanks to a 26-2 run fureed by the Zips making their first 10 shots from the floor. The run was led by Robotham who had 11 points during that stretch, which included three steals that led to uncontested layups.
Akron continued to build on its advantage The game’s biggest differential was the final score as UA ended the game as it started -- with a run -- this one was a 9-2 spurt.
It was the third time in their four home games that the Zips have led from the game’s first basket. The only time the visitors had a lead was a two-point lead early in the first half by Georgia Southern on November 22.
Akron shot 61.7 percent (37-of-60) and connected on 14-of-27 from three-point range. The hosts owned a 38-25 rebound edge (15 of which game from the offensive end), and had 20 assists. In addition they had six steals and forced the Bulldogs into 16 turnovers that were turned into 26 points.
The Zips will get their toughest test of the young season on Saturday as they travel to Omaha to face the Creighton Blue Jays from the Big East Conference.