The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Escapes Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 68-65
November 28 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio - Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens converted a pair of free throws in the final seconds of regulation to seal the University of Akron men's basketball team's 68-65 win over Arkanasas-Pine Bluff on Friday in a non-conference game at Rhodes Arena.
After holding a 58-45 lead with eight minutes remaining, Akron
(3-2) made just two field goals the rest of the way and
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-4) took a 65-64 lead on a pair of free
throws by Terrance Calvin with 50 seconds to go. A layup by Nikola
Cvetinovic with 37 seconds left helped the Zips regain a 66-65
edge and the Golden Lions missed three layups over the next 30
seconds, as part of the same possession, before fouling Hitchens
and setting up his game-clinching charity tosses.
Hitchens, the reigning Mid-American Conference East Division Player
of the Week, scored all 11 of his points in the second half, on the
strength of a 2-for-2 performance from the line and 3-for-5 showing
from 3-point range. One of four UA players to finish as a
double-digit scorer, he was paced by Cvetinovic's team-high 12 and
Brett McKnight and Darryl
Roberts' 10 apiece. Roberts also had a game-high-tying four
assists and McKnight finished with a team-best four rebounds.
Cvetinovic shot 6-for-11 from the field and had three of the
squad's six steals.
UAPB led 24-20 with 6:24 on the clock in the first half, but was
held to just one field goal for the rest of the period and UA
enjoyed a 32-29 advantage at the intermission. The Zips opened the
second half with a 12-3 run over the first 2:32 to push the margin
to 42-32. Included in that rally was a pair of 3-pointers by
Hitchens, one by Steve McNees and three free
throws by Jimmy Conyers, after he was
fouled while attempting a shot from behind the arc.
Akron shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field, 35.0 percent
(7-of-20) from 3-point range and 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the
free throw line. UAPB finished the night at 40.8 percent (20-of-49)
from the floor, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from 3-point distance and
84.0 percent (21-of-25) from the foul stripe. The Lions
outrebounded the Zips 37-24, including a 27-19 difference on the
defensive glass. Akron committed 10 turnovers compared to 17 by
UAPB, and the Zips converted those miscues into 18 points. UA's
bench outscored UAPB reserves, 28-10.
UAPB was led by Savalance Townsend's 15 points, while Tyree Glass
scored 13 and Calvin had 11.
Akron closes out its holiday weekend homestand on Sunday at 2 p.m.
ET, when Niagara visits.
