CHARLESTON, S.C. – Pat Forsythe and Kwan Cheatham, Jr., combined for 30 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Akron Zips to a 66-46 win over Southern California in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Gildan Charleston Classic on Thursday at TD Arena.
Forsythe finished with a career-high in points (15) and rebounds (9), to go with two blocked shots. Cheatham also posted career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (7), in addition to two assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Noah Robotham added 14 points.
Forsythe finished with a career-high in points (15) and rebounds (9), to go with two blocked shots. Cheatham also posted career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (7), in addition to two assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Noah Robotham added 14 points.
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As a team, the Zips shot 40.0 percent from the field (24-of-60) and 29.6 percent from long range (8-of-27). Akron recorded 14 assists to just 12 turnovers, and won the battle of the boards, 41-39.
USC (1-2) shot just 28.3 percent from the floor (15-of-53) and 16.7 percent from behind the arc (2-of-12). Nikola Jovanovic led the Trojans with 11 points.
The Zips opened the game passing the ball extremely well to open an early 8-2 lead. Nyles Evans, who got the starting nod, had three assists in the first four minutes.
Robotham's three-point play courtesy of a fast-break pass from Antino Jackson capped off an 8-0 Akron run, forcing the Trojans to burn a time out with 13:36 left in the first half. Robotham's and-1 gave the Zips an 18-9 lead.
Akron would keep the pressure on USC, leading by 10 points (30-20) at the final media timeout. The Zip' lead reached 14 (36-22) in the final seconds of the half before Akron headed to the locker room up 36-24.
Robotham led all scorers in the half with 11 points. Cheatham finished the first 20 minutes with 10 points, three rebounds and one assist.
The Zips pushed their advantage to 43-28 just 3:25 into the second half. Deji Ibitayo's thunderous dunk with 14:49 would force USC to call their first timeout of the second half with the Zips leading 45-30 (14:50).
After Robotham went to the bench with his fourth foul of the game (14:13), USC put together a short 6-0 spurt to force the Zips to call timeout. Akron’s lead reached 47-36 with 11:36 to go.
A 10-0 Trojans run cut the Akron advantage to 47-40 with 10:00 left. However, Antino Jackson put together an 8-0 run of his own, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to give the Zips a 55-40 lead at the under-8 media timeout (6:15).
The Zips' lead grew to as many as 21 (65-44) with 1:06 to go as and Akron cruised to a 66-46 final.
The Zips return to action on Friday when the face the winner of the Miami (Fla.) vs. Drexel game. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET and the game will air live on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Notebook: The Zips have now defeated at least one Power Six Conference team in each of the last four years ...the victory is also Akron's second-straight and third overall over the Pac-12 ... Akron is holding opponents to just 51.5 points per game and has forced 32 total turnovers (16.0 turnovers per game).
USC (1-2) shot just 28.3 percent from the floor (15-of-53) and 16.7 percent from behind the arc (2-of-12). Nikola Jovanovic led the Trojans with 11 points.
The Zips opened the game passing the ball extremely well to open an early 8-2 lead. Nyles Evans, who got the starting nod, had three assists in the first four minutes.
Robotham's three-point play courtesy of a fast-break pass from Antino Jackson capped off an 8-0 Akron run, forcing the Trojans to burn a time out with 13:36 left in the first half. Robotham's and-1 gave the Zips an 18-9 lead.
Akron would keep the pressure on USC, leading by 10 points (30-20) at the final media timeout. The Zip' lead reached 14 (36-22) in the final seconds of the half before Akron headed to the locker room up 36-24.
Robotham led all scorers in the half with 11 points. Cheatham finished the first 20 minutes with 10 points, three rebounds and one assist.
The Zips pushed their advantage to 43-28 just 3:25 into the second half. Deji Ibitayo's thunderous dunk with 14:49 would force USC to call their first timeout of the second half with the Zips leading 45-30 (14:50).
After Robotham went to the bench with his fourth foul of the game (14:13), USC put together a short 6-0 spurt to force the Zips to call timeout. Akron’s lead reached 47-36 with 11:36 to go.
A 10-0 Trojans run cut the Akron advantage to 47-40 with 10:00 left. However, Antino Jackson put together an 8-0 run of his own, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to give the Zips a 55-40 lead at the under-8 media timeout (6:15).
The Zips' lead grew to as many as 21 (65-44) with 1:06 to go as and Akron cruised to a 66-46 final.
The Zips return to action on Friday when the face the winner of the Miami (Fla.) vs. Drexel game. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET and the game will air live on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Notebook: The Zips have now defeated at least one Power Six Conference team in each of the last four years ...the victory is also Akron's second-straight and third overall over the Pac-12 ... Akron is holding opponents to just 51.5 points per game and has forced 32 total turnovers (16.0 turnovers per game).
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