Akron Ends Regular Season with 74-60 Victory Over Kent State

AKRON, OHIO – Even though the Akron Zips already had the top seed in next week’s Mid-American Conference Men’s basketball tournament already wrapped up, there was still something to play for in the regular season finale against neighborhood rival Kent State on Friday night at the sold out James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips were looking to avenge the 85-76 loss to the Golden Flashes from just two weeks ago in the first meeting at the M.A.C. Center in Kent.

The Golden Flashes also had a lot to play for on Friday night. A sweep of the regular season series would guarantee Kent State would finish no worse than fourth which would guarantee a bye into the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament.

Neither team shot the basketball very well. Akron finish at 37 percent, Kent State at 36 percent. After knocking down a school record 20 three pointers on Tuesday night against the Ohio University Bobcats, Akron was just seven of 33 from behind the arc.

Kent State only lead in the basketball game for 14 second following a Kellon Thomas layup at the 16:57 mark of the second half.

The Golden Flashes didn’t record their first field goal of game until 5:30 into the game on another Thomas layup. Thomas finished with eleven points for Kent State.

The Golden Flashes had three players score in double figures. Chris Ortiz fibnished with 12 points, ten of them coming in the first half. Jimmy Hall was a force on both ends of the court. Hall had a double double with a game high 20 points and 17 rebounds.

However, the game got away from the Golden Flashes after hall was called for a technical foul with 8:59 remaining in the game. Hall had just made a layup to cut the Zips lead down to five at 56-51. Hall would start taunting Zips players right in front of the officials.

Jake Kretzer would knock down both technical free throws. Kent State would go scoreless over the next three minutes and Akron would stretch their lead out to 12 points, the largest lead of the night at that point at 63-51.

Both teams would trade buckets the rest of the way and Akron would cruise to a 74-60 victory and a regular season split with each team protecting home court.

Akron only had three players finishing double figures in scoring. Noah Robotham and Isaiah Johnson lead the way with 12 points each. St. Vincent St. Mary alum Josh Williams added eleven points.

Akron finishes the regular season at 24-7 and 13-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State finishes the regular season at 19-12 and 10-8 in the Mid-American Conference.

With the loss, Kent State is the fifth seed and will host 12th seed Bowling Green in a first round game in the Mid-American Conference tournament at the M.A.C. Center on Monday March 7 at 7 p.m.

Akron receives a bye into the quarterfinals at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 10. The Zips will play the first game of the day. Tip-off is at 12 p.m.

If Akron and Kent State meet again in the Mid-American Conference tournament, it will be in the semifinals on Friday, March 11.