The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Malone
Men's Basketball Wraps Up Exhibition Play with 106-67 Win Over Malone
November 03 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – Nick Harney led five Zips in double figures with a game-high 22 points as The University of Akron men's basketball team defeated Malone 106-67 in its second and final exhibition game Saturday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Harney was 11-of-13 from the floor and added seven rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. Reggie McAdams and Blake Justice each had 15 points off the bench, with Justice scoring all of his points on 3-pointers. Jake Kretzer and Brian Walsh chipped in with 11 each, and Zeke Marshall had eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
As a team, UA shot 41-of-69 (59.4 percent) from the floor and held the Pioneers to 21-of-62 (33.9 percent) shooting on the night. The Zips also shot 50.0 percent (14-of-28) from beyond the arc. Akron's bench out-scored Malone's 76-22 and the Zips held a 49-25 advantage on the glass.
Malone was led by Isiah Elliott's 19 points.
After Malone opened the game by out-scoring the Zips, 7-4, Akron went on a 9-2 run to take a 13-9 lead at the first media timeout as Harney capped the run with a two-handed baseline slam.
The Pioneers would cut the UA lead to two at 16-14 on 3-pointer by Christian Graves, but the Zips answered with a 12-0 run to push their lead to 14 points at 28-14 when Marshall spit a pair of free throws with 11:07 remaining.
During the 12-0 run, McAdams and Deji Ibitayo provided instant offense for the Zips as McAdams canned his second trey of the half and Ibitayo had five points on a three of his own and two free throws.
McAdams continued to have the hot hand in the first half as he scored five straight points on a three from the right corner and a pull up baseline jumper from the opposite side of the court, which gave Akron a 21 point lead (39-18) at the under eight minute media timeout.
A pair of buckets by Ibitayo, a Marshall turn-around jumper and a 3-pointer from Justice forced a Malone timeout at the 2:55 mark with the Zips leading, 53-24.
The Zips entered the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 61-29 lead as McAdams (13) and Harney (10) each scored in double figures in the first half. UA shot 61.1 percent (22-of-36) from the field in the first 20 minutes.
Chauncey Gilliam opened the second half with seven quick points that made the score 68-29 and prompted a Malone timeout at the 18:08 mark.
Harney continued his strong play in the second half as he scored eight-straight points on two lay-ups and two dunks to make the score 82-40 with 12:35 left.
A thunderous one-handed slam by Harney pushed Akron's lead to a game-high 50 points (90-40) with 10:12 left. The Zips went over the century mark for the second straight game thanks to a tip-in by Harney with 4:15 left that made the score 101-59.
The Zips open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 9, when they play at Coastal Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET.
