It's Akron vs Miami: Top two seeds advance to title game
No. 1 Akron and No. 2 Miami demonstrated their mettle Friday, with each pulling away late to record victories in MAC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal action at Rocket Arena.
The surviving pair will meet Saturday for the tourney title. That championship contest will tip off at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2). The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Click Read More for details . . .
The surviving pair will meet Saturday for the tourney title. That championship contest will tip off at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2). The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Click Read More for details . . .
No. 1 AKRON 100, No. 4 TOLEDO 90
The Zips (27-6, 18-1 MAC) led throughout in a 100-90 win over No. 4 Toledo (18-15, 10-8 MAC) in the first game. However, Toledo made several runs in an attempt to catch UA. It was a five-point game (70-65 with 11:02 remaining in the second stanza.
Akron, which connected on 56.1 percent from the field and 55.6 percent on threes, again responded, building up 14-point advantage (97-83) before winning by 10.
Zips junior guard Nate Johnson led all scorers with 31 points. He hit 10 of 16 shots overall and 3 of 4 treys. Another eight points came at the free throw line where Johnson sank all eight chances.
Seth Johnson and Isaiah Gray provided 15 apiece and Amani Lyles chipped in 12 more (along with nine rebounds) for the Zips.
Seth Hubbard topped the Rockets with 28 points. Sam Lewis followed with 23, while Javan Simmons (18) and Sonny Wilson (16) combined for another 34 points.
The Zips (27-6, 18-1 MAC) led throughout in a 100-90 win over No. 4 Toledo (18-15, 10-8 MAC) in the first game. However, Toledo made several runs in an attempt to catch UA. It was a five-point game (70-65 with 11:02 remaining in the second stanza.
Akron, which connected on 56.1 percent from the field and 55.6 percent on threes, again responded, building up 14-point advantage (97-83) before winning by 10.
Zips junior guard Nate Johnson led all scorers with 31 points. He hit 10 of 16 shots overall and 3 of 4 treys. Another eight points came at the free throw line where Johnson sank all eight chances.
Seth Johnson and Isaiah Gray provided 15 apiece and Amani Lyles chipped in 12 more (along with nine rebounds) for the Zips.
Seth Hubbard topped the Rockets with 28 points. Sam Lewis followed with 23, while Javan Simmons (18) and Sonny Wilson (16) combined for another 34 points.
No. 2 MIAMI 72, No. 4 KENT STATE 64
Miami's guard duo of Peter Suder (23) and Kam Craft (17) combined for 40 points Friday, leading the RedHawks to a 72-64 win over Kent State.
Suder recorded his second double-double of the MAC tournament with 23 points and 11 rebounds - a bit more conventional than Thursday's double against Eastern Michigan (7 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists).
Craft, who scored 24 Thursday, went scoreless before intermission against Kent State. However, he came out firing when play resumed, hitting a series of clutch shots a fiercely competitive game. All 17 of his points against KSU came in the second half.
Eian Elmer added 10 points and eight boards.
There were 11 ties and 19 leads gained, with both the teams trading body blows -- particularly in the second half. The Flashes led at intermission 33-32 thanks to a long three by Cian Medley with three seconds left.
Kent State's last lead was 60-58 following a Marquis Barnett layup at 5:18. Craft, then tied the game with a bucket one minute later and hit a triple to put Miami in front for good at 3:27.
When the Flashes pulled within one at 65-64, Craft knocked down his fifth trey of the half. KSU was unable to score again, and Miami added four more free throws to seal its first MAC Tournament semifinal win since 2007.
Kent State's Jalen Sullinger topped all scorers with 29 points. Barnett (11) and VonCameron Davis (10) also reached double figures.
Both teams recorded 23 field goals. However, Miami made 11 of 30 beyond the arc, while KSU went 7 of 24 from long distance.
Miami also helped its cause at the line, hitting 15 of 19 opportunties (78.9%). The Flashes were just 11 of 21 on charity tosses.
Miami's guard duo of Peter Suder (23) and Kam Craft (17) combined for 40 points Friday, leading the RedHawks to a 72-64 win over Kent State.
Suder recorded his second double-double of the MAC tournament with 23 points and 11 rebounds - a bit more conventional than Thursday's double against Eastern Michigan (7 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists).
Craft, who scored 24 Thursday, went scoreless before intermission against Kent State. However, he came out firing when play resumed, hitting a series of clutch shots a fiercely competitive game. All 17 of his points against KSU came in the second half.
Eian Elmer added 10 points and eight boards.
There were 11 ties and 19 leads gained, with both the teams trading body blows -- particularly in the second half. The Flashes led at intermission 33-32 thanks to a long three by Cian Medley with three seconds left.
Kent State's last lead was 60-58 following a Marquis Barnett layup at 5:18. Craft, then tied the game with a bucket one minute later and hit a triple to put Miami in front for good at 3:27.
When the Flashes pulled within one at 65-64, Craft knocked down his fifth trey of the half. KSU was unable to score again, and Miami added four more free throws to seal its first MAC Tournament semifinal win since 2007.
Kent State's Jalen Sullinger topped all scorers with 29 points. Barnett (11) and VonCameron Davis (10) also reached double figures.
Both teams recorded 23 field goals. However, Miami made 11 of 30 beyond the arc, while KSU went 7 of 24 from long distance.
Miami also helped its cause at the line, hitting 15 of 19 opportunties (78.9%). The Flashes were just 11 of 21 on charity tosses.
RSS Feed