The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Abreu's Late 3-Pointer Helps Men's Basketball Down Ball State 71-64
January 16 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – Nick Harney finished with 15 points to lead three Akron players in double figures as the Zips ran their win streak to eight games with a 71-64 victory over Ball State in Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday night at Rhodes Arena.
Harney converted 6-of-13 field goals on his way toward notching his seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and fifth in as many games. He also finished with two steals and four rebounds as his side improved to 9-0 at home on the campaign.
Zeke Marshall and Alex Abreu rounded out the double-digit scorers for Akron (12-4, 3-0 MAC) with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Marshall had a team-high six rebounds to go with three blocked shots, while Abreu was responsible for seven assists in a team-high 30 minutes. Marshall became the second player in MAC history to reach 300 career blocks (300).
Majok Majok led Ball State (7-8, 1-2 MAC) with a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds.
Down 34-28 at the half, the Cardinals pulled to within 47-46 on a Jauwan Scaife 3-pointer with 10:48 remaining, but Abreu answered with a 3-pointer of his own on the next possession. Abreu, who finished 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, connected on another 3-pointer to put the Zips up 66-57 with about one minute remaining.
Akron made 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
The contest featured three ties and eight lead changes in the first half. Ball State had its biggest lead of the night, 28-22, with 3:07 to play in the opening period.
Akron travels to neighborhood rival Kent State on Saturday for the latest edition of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. Tip off for the ESPNU telecast is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Zips Notebook: Ball State's Lonnie Jones (1998-2002) holds the Mid-American Conference career blocked shots record with 301 ... with the win, ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot tied Miami (Ohio)'s Darrell Hedric for fourth place on the all-time MAC overall wins list with his 216 wins as a league coach (216-125) ... the Zips improve to 41-12 (.774) against the MAC's West Division under Dambrot.
