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Men's Basketball Downs Ball State, 59-47, in Second-Annual Purple Out Game
January 27 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – A crowd of purple and a 59-47 win over Ball State helped Akron commemorate and remember the life of Coach Dan Peters Tuesday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The game, designated as the Second-Annual Purple Out game, was a celebration of the life of Peters, Akron's former director of basketball operations. Peters passed away in October 2014 after battling pancreatic cancer.
The win was the 12th-straight against Ball State for the Zips.
Akron (14-6, 5-2 MAC) struggled to shoot the ball in the first half, connecting on just 33.3 percent (9-of-27), but found its rhythm in the second half. The Zips shot 50.0 percent (14-of-28) from the field over the final 20 minutes.
Ball State (7-11, 2-5 MAC) also could not get anything going in the first half, shooting 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from the field. The Cardinals connected on 45.5 percent (10-of-22) in the second half.
Pat Forsythe scored a career-high 17 points to lead all players, adding five rebounds and two blocked shots. Deji Ibitayo added nine points, three rebounds and two steals. Aaron Jackson came off the bench to score seven points and grab three rebounds.
Bo Calhoun led the way for the Cardinals with a double-double (14 points,12 rebounds).
Akron and Ball State both started the game off shooting just 1-of-5 from the field to start the contest. Ball State scored the first basket of the game with a 3-pointer from Francis Kiapway. Akron would get on the board when Kwan Cheatham, Jr., drove the lane and connected on a lay-up at the 17:26 mark.
The Zips offensive struggles would continue, going 1-of-6 after making their first basket. Antino Jackson would end the scoring drought with Akron's first 3-pointer of the game to tie the game at seven. Akron was 0-of-5 from beyond the arc prior to the made basket.
Ball State extended their early lead to eight (15-7) with an 8-0 run after Sean Sellers made a 3-pointer for the Cardinals at the 9:17 mark.
The Zips would go cold again for two and a half minutes before Noah Robotham found Jake Kretzer for three to cut the Ball State lead to 20-15 with 5:14 to play in the first half.
Akron took its first lead of the ball game 24-22 at the 2:00 mark of the first half courtesy of a left handed hook shot by Forsythe.
After trailing for most of the first half the Zips and Cardinals headed into the locker room knotted at 24.
After Ball State opened up the second half with two quick baskets, Akron went on a 9-0 scoring run to take a 33-28 lead. The Zips started to use their height advantage as their first six points of the second half came form inside the paint courtesy of Forsythe and B.J. Gladden.
The Zips found some offensive rhythm and extended their lead to nine (44-35) when Jackson hit his second 3-pointer of then game.
The Zips lead would not drop below eight points after the 12:12 mark of the second half, with the lead growing to as many as 15 over the final minutes.
Akron opens a two-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Bowling Green. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Zips Notebook: Pat Forsythe's previous career high for points (15) came against Southern California on Nov. 20, 2014 ... Akron has won 27 of its last 31 regular-season games against teams from the MAC West ... the Zips held their Second-Annual Purple Out game to celebrate the life of the late Dan Peters, Akron's former director of Basketball operations ... Peters lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in October 2014 ... Akron unveiled new purple uniforms with the name "Peters" on the name plate as part of the Purple Out game.
