Kalamazoo, Mich. – The No. 11 seeded Akron Zips outlasted No. 6 seed Western Michigan Broncos, 79-78, in a rollercoaster of an opening round Mid-American Conference Tournament game Monday night at University Arena.
The Zips overcame a 23-point first . . .
The Zips overcame a 23-point first . . .
. . . half deficit to advance to the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio at Quicken Loans Arena.
Western Michigan (17-15, 9-9 MAC) flew out of the gates, knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers for a 9-0 run, forcing Akron (14-18, 6-12 MAC) to spend an early timeout at 17:10.
When play resumed, the Broncos tacked-on one more triple to take a 12-0 advantage into the first media timeout. Western opened the game with seven shots -- all from behind the arc -- and made four.
Sophomore Daniel Utomi ended Akron's eight-minute scoring drought with a baseline drive and finish for the Zips' first two points with 11:54 showing on the clock. The Zips didn't score again until the 10:36 mark to make it 21-4.
Western Michigan kept its foot on the gas, rattling-off six more unanswered points to take their largest lead of the game at 23-points, 27-4, at the under-8 media break.
From there the momentum dramatically switched sides as Utomi buried a trifecta that sparked a 17-0 run in the Zips' favor. Akron stepped up the defensive effort during the onslaught, collecting three consecutive steals, two in a row by freshman Eric Parrish and one by freshman Virshon Cotton. All three steals led to breakaway layups.
Akron continued to push the pace by crashing the glass and causing turnovers. Two more steals led to six quick points as Utomi swiped the ball and found Cotton for a triple. Cotton then returned the favor by swiping the next pass and setting up Utomi for a long ball to cut the deficit to six points, 27-21.
The final three minutes of the half went back-and-forth. With eight seconds remaining, graduate Malcolm Duvivier buried two bonus buckets to end the half with the Zips down four points, 35-31.
In the second half, Akron immediately cut the WMU advantage to one-point on a Utomi 3-pointer, and a second 3-pointer kept the score at one, 42-41 WMU. After a missed shot, Utomi drove the baseline to give their first lead 43-42 at the 16:23 mark. The Zips then increased the lead to 48-45 by 15:01, outscoring the Broncos 17-10 in the first five minutes.
Akron pushed its advantage to as many as 12 points, 66-54, after a Utomi three, but took a hit when junior Jimond Ivey was whistled for his fifth foul with 6:16 remaining in the game.
Akron held on to the lead and was up 77-70 after a Cotton 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
The Broncos battled back with one last desperate push and regained the lead with 6.4 seconds left. The 8-0 run started with three consecutive free throws from Reggie Jones. WMU's Thomas Wilder stole the ensuing pass and ran it out for a lay-in with less than 16.6 seconds remaining.
As the Zips inbounded the ball and pushed it up the floor Josh Davis picked the ball out of the air, and Bryce Moore kissed a 3-ball off the window to give Western Michigan a 78-77 lead with 6.4 seconds showing on the clock.
Cotton’s frantic drive up the court ended with a Bronco foul. The freshman knocked down both attempts, giving UA its final 79-78 edge.
Utomi led Akron's scoring with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including a 6-of-9 effort from downtown. Cotton followed for the Zips with 21 points.
Wilder led the Broncos with 21 points. Also reaching double figures were Reggie Jones (18), Drake LaMont (14) and Bryce Moore (14).
The Zips are scheduled to resumes MAC Tournament play in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 8 at approximately 9 p.m. against the No. 3 seed Eastern Michigan.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
Western Michigan (17-15, 9-9 MAC) flew out of the gates, knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers for a 9-0 run, forcing Akron (14-18, 6-12 MAC) to spend an early timeout at 17:10.
When play resumed, the Broncos tacked-on one more triple to take a 12-0 advantage into the first media timeout. Western opened the game with seven shots -- all from behind the arc -- and made four.
Sophomore Daniel Utomi ended Akron's eight-minute scoring drought with a baseline drive and finish for the Zips' first two points with 11:54 showing on the clock. The Zips didn't score again until the 10:36 mark to make it 21-4.
Western Michigan kept its foot on the gas, rattling-off six more unanswered points to take their largest lead of the game at 23-points, 27-4, at the under-8 media break.
From there the momentum dramatically switched sides as Utomi buried a trifecta that sparked a 17-0 run in the Zips' favor. Akron stepped up the defensive effort during the onslaught, collecting three consecutive steals, two in a row by freshman Eric Parrish and one by freshman Virshon Cotton. All three steals led to breakaway layups.
Akron continued to push the pace by crashing the glass and causing turnovers. Two more steals led to six quick points as Utomi swiped the ball and found Cotton for a triple. Cotton then returned the favor by swiping the next pass and setting up Utomi for a long ball to cut the deficit to six points, 27-21.
The final three minutes of the half went back-and-forth. With eight seconds remaining, graduate Malcolm Duvivier buried two bonus buckets to end the half with the Zips down four points, 35-31.
In the second half, Akron immediately cut the WMU advantage to one-point on a Utomi 3-pointer, and a second 3-pointer kept the score at one, 42-41 WMU. After a missed shot, Utomi drove the baseline to give their first lead 43-42 at the 16:23 mark. The Zips then increased the lead to 48-45 by 15:01, outscoring the Broncos 17-10 in the first five minutes.
Akron pushed its advantage to as many as 12 points, 66-54, after a Utomi three, but took a hit when junior Jimond Ivey was whistled for his fifth foul with 6:16 remaining in the game.
Akron held on to the lead and was up 77-70 after a Cotton 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
The Broncos battled back with one last desperate push and regained the lead with 6.4 seconds left. The 8-0 run started with three consecutive free throws from Reggie Jones. WMU's Thomas Wilder stole the ensuing pass and ran it out for a lay-in with less than 16.6 seconds remaining.
As the Zips inbounded the ball and pushed it up the floor Josh Davis picked the ball out of the air, and Bryce Moore kissed a 3-ball off the window to give Western Michigan a 78-77 lead with 6.4 seconds showing on the clock.
Cotton’s frantic drive up the court ended with a Bronco foul. The freshman knocked down both attempts, giving UA its final 79-78 edge.
Utomi led Akron's scoring with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including a 6-of-9 effort from downtown. Cotton followed for the Zips with 21 points.
Wilder led the Broncos with 21 points. Also reaching double figures were Reggie Jones (18), Drake LaMont (14) and Bryce Moore (14).
The Zips are scheduled to resumes MAC Tournament play in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 8 at approximately 9 p.m. against the No. 3 seed Eastern Michigan.
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
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