The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Rolls to 96-49 Rout of NC Central
December 09 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – Chris
McKnight led four University of Akron players in double figures
with a career-high 17 points as the Zips (6-2) cruised to a 96-49
rout of North Carolina Central (1-11) Saturday night at Rhodes
Arena.
McKnight, who also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in his second
start of the year, was joined in double-digits by Mike
Bardo (12), Nick Dials (12) and Jeremiah
Wood (10) as the Zips dominated the Eagles in nearly every
category.
The Zips were especially efficient on the offensive end, shooting
57.8 percent (37-of-64) from the floor and 55.6 percent (10-of-18)
from 3-point range while dishing out a season-best 26 assists. UA
was equally impressive defensively, scoring 41 points off of 22
NCCU turnovers, and out-rebounded the Eagles, 41-29.
North Carolina Central was limited to just 33.3 percent (19-of-57)
shooting from the floor and 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from 3-point
distance. Charles Futrell led NCCU with 19 points.
Akron controlled the contest from the opening tip, scoring 14 of
the game's first 17 points behind a pair of 3-pointers from Dials.
The Zips blew it wide open with a 24-0 run over the course of seven
minutes and 12 seconds, pushing their lead to 32 points (48-16)
with 5:39 on the clock in the first half. The Zips, who improved to
4-0 at home, carried a 61-23 advantage into the locker room and the
route was on.
The Zips have now won 14-straight home games, which ranks as the
eighth-longest home-court win streak in the nation. UA has also
been victorious in 35 of their last
36 games at Rhodes Arena, and are 44-2 at home under fourth-year
head coach Keith Dambrot.
Akron will have a week-long break for final exams before returning
to action on Dec. 15 at Austin Peay. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30
p.m. EST in Clarksville, Tenn.
