By EVAN MEYER
AKRON, OHIO – The Akron Zips tied a season high, hitting 15 shots from 3- point range as they built a 16-point first half lead and went on to defeat the Northern Illinois Huskies 82-67 Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Arena.
With the victory Akron (9-9, 2-4 MAC) picked up their second win in Mid-American Conference play while improving to 9-1 at home.
"We made a lot of plays on both ends of the court.” Zips head coach John Groce said. “We shot the ball well, everybody made positive plays and everyone got an assist. It was a good effort, and our focus was in the right direction.”
Freshman Virshon Cotton and . . .
AKRON, OHIO – The Akron Zips tied a season high, hitting 15 shots from 3- point range as they built a 16-point first half lead and went on to defeat the Northern Illinois Huskies 82-67 Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Arena.
With the victory Akron (9-9, 2-4 MAC) picked up their second win in Mid-American Conference play while improving to 9-1 at home.
"We made a lot of plays on both ends of the court.” Zips head coach John Groce said. “We shot the ball well, everybody made positive plays and everyone got an assist. It was a good effort, and our focus was in the right direction.”
Freshman Virshon Cotton and . . .
. . . graduate player Malcolm Duvivier led UA with 17 points each, hitting a combined nine shots from beyond the arc. Cotton added three assists and two steals, while Duvivier, who came from Oregon State, added three rebounds, and four assists.
The Zips 15 threes tied a season mark as they hit that number in their home opening win over Tennessee-Martin back in November.
Sophomore Daniel Utomi had 16 points, all of them coming in the second half, while Junior Jimond Ivey added 15 with 10 rebounds, five assists and a steal.
“Today was a start -- getting the victory.” Ivey said. “We have to take it one play at a time, one game at a time. Starting on Tuesday against Ohio.”
Northern Illinois (9-10, 2-4) was sent down to defeat for the fourth time in the last five games and owns just one ‘true’ road win so far this season.
Sophomore Eugene German and junior Dante Thorpe led the Huskies with 16 points each. German had two rebounds while Thorpe had four boards and a steal.
After being blown out by Buffalo on Tuesday, the Huskies opened strong against UA and established an 11-8 lead at the 13:23 mark on a jumper by Gairges Daow, who finished with 14 points.
From that point on, however, UA took control of the contest. Akron used a 17-2 run to open a 25-13 lead at the 7:58 mark on a driving layup by Duvivier and held a 43-30 lead at halftime.
UA was 16-of-30 from the field in the opening half and 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. The Zips held their own on rebounds -- down only 32-30 despite not having Emmanuel Olojapoke, who is out for the season due to a medical issue.
Northern Illinois started the second period by whittling the the lead down to eight (49-41) after a pair of free throws by German, who came into the game leading the MAC in scoring at 19.7 points per game.
It was the closest NIU would get until the final moments of the game as the Zips pushed the lead out to 20 (78-58) when Ivey made one of two free throws.
The Huskies made the game close in the final moments with a 9-0 run to pull within 13. However, UA had the game in control, picking up its third win in the last four games. NIU has failed to win in Akron since February, 2008.
NOTES;
>>> Statistically speaking, NIU narrowly won the rebound battle 32-30 but UA had 19 assists to four for the Huskies.
>>> UA turned 15 Huskie turnovers into 23 points and had 10 second chance points
>>> junior Levi Bradley, one of the top rebounders in the MAC,Nwas held to just two caroms -- both on the defensive side -- over the 40 minutes.
When asked about the end of the game when NIU made a run, Groce said. “We have to be better not only starting games, but in finishing games. Youth does not count at this stage of the season. We must get better at that.”
Both teams return to action on Tuesday with Akron hosting Ohio in an Eastern Division battle. The Cats traveled to Eastern Michigan on Saturday and beat the Eagles.
NIU returns home to host Bowling Green at the Convocation Center. The Falcons fell to Central Michigan at home, 84-75.
The Zips 15 threes tied a season mark as they hit that number in their home opening win over Tennessee-Martin back in November.
Sophomore Daniel Utomi had 16 points, all of them coming in the second half, while Junior Jimond Ivey added 15 with 10 rebounds, five assists and a steal.
“Today was a start -- getting the victory.” Ivey said. “We have to take it one play at a time, one game at a time. Starting on Tuesday against Ohio.”
Northern Illinois (9-10, 2-4) was sent down to defeat for the fourth time in the last five games and owns just one ‘true’ road win so far this season.
Sophomore Eugene German and junior Dante Thorpe led the Huskies with 16 points each. German had two rebounds while Thorpe had four boards and a steal.
After being blown out by Buffalo on Tuesday, the Huskies opened strong against UA and established an 11-8 lead at the 13:23 mark on a jumper by Gairges Daow, who finished with 14 points.
From that point on, however, UA took control of the contest. Akron used a 17-2 run to open a 25-13 lead at the 7:58 mark on a driving layup by Duvivier and held a 43-30 lead at halftime.
UA was 16-of-30 from the field in the opening half and 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. The Zips held their own on rebounds -- down only 32-30 despite not having Emmanuel Olojapoke, who is out for the season due to a medical issue.
Northern Illinois started the second period by whittling the the lead down to eight (49-41) after a pair of free throws by German, who came into the game leading the MAC in scoring at 19.7 points per game.
It was the closest NIU would get until the final moments of the game as the Zips pushed the lead out to 20 (78-58) when Ivey made one of two free throws.
The Huskies made the game close in the final moments with a 9-0 run to pull within 13. However, UA had the game in control, picking up its third win in the last four games. NIU has failed to win in Akron since February, 2008.
NOTES;
>>> Statistically speaking, NIU narrowly won the rebound battle 32-30 but UA had 19 assists to four for the Huskies.
>>> UA turned 15 Huskie turnovers into 23 points and had 10 second chance points
>>> junior Levi Bradley, one of the top rebounders in the MAC,Nwas held to just two caroms -- both on the defensive side -- over the 40 minutes.
When asked about the end of the game when NIU made a run, Groce said. “We have to be better not only starting games, but in finishing games. Youth does not count at this stage of the season. We must get better at that.”
Both teams return to action on Tuesday with Akron hosting Ohio in an Eastern Division battle. The Cats traveled to Eastern Michigan on Saturday and beat the Eagles.
NIU returns home to host Bowling Green at the Convocation Center. The Falcons fell to Central Michigan at home, 84-75.
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