► Akron 67, Cleveland State 57
► Kent State 111 – Youngstown State 78
By EVAN MEYER
AKRON, OHIO – For three years, college basketball fans in Northeast Ohio have been enjoying a hoops kickoff with the annual Northeast Ohio Coaches vs Cancer Classic.
Both area MAC teams – Akron and Kent State – gave fans at the 2017 event a winning effort Saturday evening at Rhodes Arena, knocking off a pair of Horizon League opponents.
(CLICK READ MORE FOR BOTH GAME STORIES . . . )
► Kent State 111 – Youngstown State 78
By EVAN MEYER
AKRON, OHIO – For three years, college basketball fans in Northeast Ohio have been enjoying a hoops kickoff with the annual Northeast Ohio Coaches vs Cancer Classic.
Both area MAC teams – Akron and Kent State – gave fans at the 2017 event a winning effort Saturday evening at Rhodes Arena, knocking off a pair of Horizon League opponents.
(CLICK READ MORE FOR BOTH GAME STORIES . . . )
GAME ONE: AKRON 67 – CLEVELAND STATE 57
The home standing Zips used a 21-2 run midway through the second half to take the lead for good en route to victory in John Groce’s first game as Zips head coach.
Groce became the first UA head coach to win his inaugural game since Bob Huggins in 1985. It was also UA’s fourth consecutive victory over Cleveland State and the Zips’ fourth opening game win in the last five seasons.
“That wasn’t an execution masterpiece.” Groce said. “I thought we played with a lot of toughness and grit in the second half and that got us to winning the game. “
Sophomore Daniel Utomi led Akron (1-0) with 20 points, while freshman Eric Parrish came off the bench added 17. Sophomore Jimond Ivey chipped in 10 markers.
Cleveland State (0-1) was paced by freshman Tyree Appleby, who had 13 points. He scored nine of them in the first half. Kenny Carpenter had 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Vikings fell in their season opener foer the fifth consecutive season.
”We had solid control of the game until the second half," CSU head coach Dennis Felton said. "In the second half, they wrestled away control with offensive rebounds and second shot opportunities. We fell apart when momentum turned and stopped doing things we needed to do to get momentum back.”
UA trailed by as many as 10 points on three occasions and was down 30-22 at halftime. At the start of the second half, the Vikings reopened a 10-point lead early before Akron went on its decisive run, opening as much as an 11-point advantage before winning by 10.
UA returns to action next Saturday as it faces Tennessee-Martin nfrom the Ohio valley Conference.
The home standing Zips used a 21-2 run midway through the second half to take the lead for good en route to victory in John Groce’s first game as Zips head coach.
Groce became the first UA head coach to win his inaugural game since Bob Huggins in 1985. It was also UA’s fourth consecutive victory over Cleveland State and the Zips’ fourth opening game win in the last five seasons.
“That wasn’t an execution masterpiece.” Groce said. “I thought we played with a lot of toughness and grit in the second half and that got us to winning the game. “
Sophomore Daniel Utomi led Akron (1-0) with 20 points, while freshman Eric Parrish came off the bench added 17. Sophomore Jimond Ivey chipped in 10 markers.
Cleveland State (0-1) was paced by freshman Tyree Appleby, who had 13 points. He scored nine of them in the first half. Kenny Carpenter had 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Vikings fell in their season opener foer the fifth consecutive season.
”We had solid control of the game until the second half," CSU head coach Dennis Felton said. "In the second half, they wrestled away control with offensive rebounds and second shot opportunities. We fell apart when momentum turned and stopped doing things we needed to do to get momentum back.”
UA trailed by as many as 10 points on three occasions and was down 30-22 at halftime. At the start of the second half, the Vikings reopened a 10-point lead early before Akron went on its decisive run, opening as much as an 11-point advantage before winning by 10.
UA returns to action next Saturday as it faces Tennessee-Martin nfrom the Ohio valley Conference.
GAME TWO: KENT STATE 111 – YOUNGSTOWN STATE 78
The defending MAC Tournament champions scored the last five points of the first half to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Kent State totally dominated the second period as it routed the Penguins in the nightcap.
KSU shot a sizzling 68.4 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and 54.7 percent for the game. Kent State (1-0) also enjoyed a 57-41 advantage on the boards.
The Flashes won their 10th consecutive season opener and are 3-0 lifetime in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.
Six Flashes scored in double figures, led by juniors Jaylin Walker and Adonis De La Rosa, each with 20 points. Walker added five assists while De La Rosa pulled down eight rebounds.
Youngstown State (0-1) was playing its first game under the direction of new head coach Jerrod Calhoun. The loss to KSU marked the first time a Penguins head coach fell to defeat in his first game since the late Dan Peters in 1993.
Cameron Morse led the Penguins with 19 points and four assists
KSU returns to action on Thursday for its home opener as Ohio Christian visits the MAC Center.
The defending MAC Tournament champions scored the last five points of the first half to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Kent State totally dominated the second period as it routed the Penguins in the nightcap.
KSU shot a sizzling 68.4 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and 54.7 percent for the game. Kent State (1-0) also enjoyed a 57-41 advantage on the boards.
The Flashes won their 10th consecutive season opener and are 3-0 lifetime in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.
Six Flashes scored in double figures, led by juniors Jaylin Walker and Adonis De La Rosa, each with 20 points. Walker added five assists while De La Rosa pulled down eight rebounds.
Youngstown State (0-1) was playing its first game under the direction of new head coach Jerrod Calhoun. The loss to KSU marked the first time a Penguins head coach fell to defeat in his first game since the late Dan Peters in 1993.
Cameron Morse led the Penguins with 19 points and four assists
KSU returns to action on Thursday for its home opener as Ohio Christian visits the MAC Center.
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