The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Victorious Over Niagara, 63-48
November 26 | Men's Basketball
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Romeo Travis (Akron,
Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary HS) and
Nick Dials (New Haven,
Ohio/Willard HS/Ohio State) scored 13 points apiece to lead
visiting Akron to a 63-48 non-conference men's basketball win over
Niagara on Saturday at Gallagher Center.
The win was the third-straight for the Zips, who improved to 3-1 on
the season, while the Purple Eagles (0-3) dropped their fourth
straight at home dating back to last season.
The Zips used a balanced scoring attack, as 10 players had at least
three points in the game. Akron, which trailed 9-2 a little more
than four minutes into the contest, took the lead for good when a
Chris McKnight (Lancaster,
Ohio/Lancaster HS) layup gave the Zips a 15-13 advantage with 11:12
in the first half.
Niagara cut the lead to 16-15 when Andrew Patterson sank a pair of
foul shots with 10:59 remaining in the first period. Akron scored
the game's next eight points to take a 24-15 lead with 8:10 left on
a Dials' 3-pointer.
Travis scored 11 of his points in the second half as Akron kept the
lead in double figures for the game's final 16 minutes, leading by
as much as 18 points three times in the final 2:09.
Dials pitched in a season-high seven assists, one off his career
best, and also had four rebounds.
Quade Milum (Dayton,
Ohio/Colonel White HS) pulled down seven boards, and set a career
high with four blocks
Clif Brown led Niagara with a game-high 15 points and a game-high
eight rebounds. J.R. Duffey added 14 points for the Purple
Eagles.
Akron shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the fourth
time this season, as it converted 52 percent (23-of-44) of its
attempts from the field. The Zips also went 10-of-23 (44 percent)
from 3-point range and 88 percent (7-of-8) from the line.
Niagara was 36 percent (20-of-55) from the floor and went was
4-of-17 (4-of-17) from 3-point range.
UA won the rebounding battle 32-26, and had a season-high-tying 16
turnovers which were counteracted by 17 assists.
Akron continues a three-game road swing Saturday at Oral Roberts in
Tulsa, Okla.
