• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

NIT: Zips advance with upset road win over Houston

3/16/2017

 
Free throws seal victory in see-saw game
Picture
By EVAN MEYER
HOUSTON, TX - The Akron Zips advanced to the second round of the 2017 National Invitational Tournament as they defeated the Houston Cougars 78-75 Wednesday night at Texas Southern University’s E&PE Arena.
 
With the victory, Akron (27-8) set a school record for victories and also ended a six-game losing streak in postseason play dating back to the 2008 NIT when they won at Florida State.
 
“We had our . . . 

. . . hearts broken two years in a row (losing in the MAC Championship Game) and I did not know what to expect (in this game).” Zips head coach Keith Dambrot said. “We were efficient offensively. We had an advantage on the inside, and we took advantage of it.”
 
Senior Isaiah Johnson led the Zips with 21 points while sophomore Jimond Ivey was the other UA player in double figures with 10.
 
Houston (21-11), out of the American Athletic Conference, was paced by Rob Gray. He led all scorers with 24 points. Damyean Dotson added 19 and Devin Davis registered 10 points along with seven rebounds.

“That was a good team (Akron) tonight .” Cougars head man Kelvin Sampson said. “This team (UH) had a small margin of error. They fought and gave us everything they could possibly give us.”
 
The game was close throughout the 40 minutes. It was tied 15 times and had 16 lead changes while the battle was played inside a differential of 13 total points.
 
The Zips started strong, scoring eight of the first ten points to take what would be their largest lead of the game just four minutes into the contest.
 
After the Cougars tied the game at 8-8, both teams then traded the advantage before the home team opened a pair of seven point leads, the last being 35-28 when Dotson hit a jumper at the 3:56 mark. UA then closed its deficit to a single point at halftime 35-34.
 
The second half was tied 12 times and had 15 lead changes. Akron’s largest lead was four, while the Cougars managed to get up by six 65-59 when Bernard Nikaki scored on a slam dunk with 6:30 remaining.
 
UA stayed within a couple possessions and knotted the score 65-65 when senior Kwan Cheatham made one of two free throws.
 
The two teams traded the lead emerged in front for good, 74-73, when Johnson, the 2017 MAC Player of the Year, split a pair of charity tosses.
 
After Johnson made a steal on UH’s next possession, junior Noah Robotham was fouled and made a pair of free throws to give the Zips a 76-73 lead. Gray responded with a driving layup with 9.7 seconds left, bringing the lead back to one 76-75.
 
When UA inbounded the ball, Robotham was fouled again. He stepped to the charity stripe and made two more foul shots for the final points of the game.
 
Houston had a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. However Dotson’s long three-point attempt hit the front of the rim. Robotham grabbed the rebound and the victory belonged to Akron.
 
The seventh-seeded Zips will now advance to the second round of the NIT to play No. 6 seed UT Arlington on Monday, March 27 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas (8 p.m. ET). The Mavericks posted a 105-89 victory at Brigham Young Wednesday.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    MAC FOOTBALL 
    2024
    REGULAR SEASON
    FINAL STANDINGS
    CLICK HERE

    Picture
    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

    MAC BASKETBALL
    STATISTICS

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly