The University of Akron Athletics
Free Throw Shooting Helps Zips Top Falcons, 65-56
February 16 | Men's Basketball
– Nate Linhart, Cedrick
Middleton and Nick Dials each scored 14 points and the
University of Akron used its pressure defense to force 18 turnovers
in a 65-56 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday at Anderson
Arena.
Linhart and Middleton each hit two 3-pointers and Dials had the
other as the Zips (18-7, 8-4 Mid-American Conference) overcame a
40-33 rebounding differential to beat the Falcons (11-13, 6-6). It
was Akron's seventh-straight victory over Bowling Green and fourth
consecutive on the Falcons' home floor. The Zips also posted their
second-straight road win.
Akron jumped out to a 37-27 lead early in the second half, but
Bowling Green went on a 10-0 run to make it 37-all with 13:56 to go
and neither team led by more than four points until there was less
than a minute to play. The Zips converted 10-of-11 free throws in
the final 47 seconds to secure the win.
Dials hit all seven of his free throws, including five down the
stretch, to lead the Zips to a seven-point advantage at the line.
UA was 18-of-25 (72 percent) while Bowling Green was 11-of-22 (50
percent).
Akron shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the field, but made just
5-of-16 (31.3 percent) of its 3-pointers – below its
MAC-leading 8.8 triples made per game. Bowling Green went 21-of-51
(41.2 percent) from the floor, including 3-of-16 (18.8 percent)
from behind the arc.
Akron had just six assists on its 21 field goals made, and both
teams had eight blocked shots.
Chris
McKnight added 10 points and three blocks for the Zips, who
converted Bowling Green turnovers into 26 points. Linhart grabbed a
team-high nine rebounds, while Middleton had a game-best three
steals.
Brian Moten had 15 points, Nate Miller 13 and Chris Knight 12 for
the Falcons, who trailed 31-26 at the half. Knight also had a
game-high 11 rebounds.
Akron travels to Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. Tip off is scheduled for
7:30 p.m. EST at Millett Hall. The Zips return home on Feb. 23 when
they step out of conference play to face off against Virginia
Commonwealth as part of O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters. The UA-VCU
game will be carried on ESPN2 at 11 a.m.
