Kent State Owns Akron 85-76 in Round One of Wagon Wheel Challenge

KENT, OHIO – They are separated by only 13 miles. Friday night, the Akron Zips and the Kent State Golden Flashes took to the court at the M.A.C. Center in Kent to do battle for the first time this season and the 144th time overall.

The Zips and the Flashes look to take the lead with bragging rights in the battle to “Own the 330.” Kent State fans in attendance were given an “Own the 330” t-shirt for the game.

Friday’s meeting was very important in the race for first place in the eastern division of the Mid-American Conference. Akron was looking to take a commanding three game lead over the Flashes. Kent State hoped to get within a game of the Zips in the conference.

Akron entered the meeting as one of the best teams from three point range. The Zips are 14th in the nation in three point percentage at just under 40 percent. The Zips are third at defending the three point line and second in three pointers made.

Kent State came into the game down two key players in guards Xavier Pollard and Jaylin Walker. The rest of the Flashes roster stepped up and proved that they could play without them.

The Zips have lived by the three ball, Friday night they died by the three point shot. Akron struggled shooting the three in the first half. The Zips were just three of 15 from downtown. Kent State was three of eight and used a size advantage to build a 42-32 lead at halftime.

Akron took it’s first lead of the game nearly eight minutes into the contest at 15-13 on a layup by Isaiah Johnson. The six foot ten center from Cincinnati was a force down low for the Zips.

Johnson finished with a game high 24 poijts off the bench. Johnson also pulled down nine rebounds but was a non factor down the stretch because of foul trouble.

Kent State will increase it’s halftime lead to 15 early in the second half on a Deon Edwin layup off a steal by Kellon Thomas to give the flashes a 48-33 lead. Thomas was the high scorer in the first half for Kent State with 16 of his team high 22 points coming in the opening 20 minutes of action.

The Zips would battle their way back. Akron would cut into the deficit with a 12-3 run to get back withing six points at 51-45. Akron would later go on a 16-10 run to tie the game at 61 a piece on a three pointer by Kwan Cheatham who finished with 17 points on the night.

Kent State would weather the Zips storm by scoring the next eight points and go on a 12-1 run to all but put the game away. Akron would try and shoot their way back into the game, but it didn’t work as Kent State wins the first meeting of the season in this neighborhood rivalry 85-76.

Khaliq Spicer scored a season best 22 points to match Thomas for the team high in scoring for Kent State. Jimmy Hall added 17 points for the Flashes. Akron finished just seven of 28 from three point territory.

Kent State improves to 18-9 on the season and 9-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Flashes trail the Zips by just one game in the conference. Akron falls to 21-6 and 10-4 in the Mid-American Conference.

Both teams have four games remaining in the regular season. All game are in the Mid-American Conference. Akron travels to Miami University on Tuesday night for their final road game of the regular season against the Redhawks. Kent State travels to Buffalo on Tuesday night to face the Bulls.

Round two in the neighborhood rivalry takes place on Friday March 4 at 7 p.m. from Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron to conclude the regular season. That game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN 2.

The Flashes win improves their chances of winning the “Wagon Wheel Challenge,” a battle between both schools in all NCAA athletics throughout the season.