The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Coppin State
Men's Basketball Closes Non-Conference Play with 79-62 Win Over Coppin State
January 03 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips wrapped up their non-conference slate on Saturday night with a 79-62 victory over Coppin State at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Four Zips hit double figures, with two players scoring in double digits off the bench, to help Akron's reserves out-score CSU's 46-9.
Isaiah Johnson led Akron (9-4) with 13 total points and four rebounds to go with an assist and a steal. Johnson went 7-for-10 from the charity stripe and issued a perfect 3-for-3 performance from the field.
Kwan Cheatham, Jr., Antino Jackson and Noah Robotham scored 10 each. Cheatham dished out a team-high five assists, posted a team-high seven boards and recorded a pair of steals. Jackson's 10 points came in just 13 minutes of play.
Four of Coppin State's (1-14) starters scored in double figures, led by Sterling Smith with a game-high 16.
UA forced 22 turnovers, which it converted into 27 total points. Akron recorded 10 giveaways of its own, nine of which came off CSU steals.
Following back-to-back Zips turnovers, Jake Kretzer connected on a shot from behind the arc at the 12:40 mark of the first half to break up a 7-0 CSU run and bring Akron within one of the Eagles at 11-10.
The lead would change five times until Akron scored 10 uninterrupted points and forced a turnover on five-straight Coppin State possessions to take a 23-15 lead with 8:59 remaining in the first half.
Akron stayed in control and held the Eagles to one field goal over five minutes and score 10-straight for the second time with a dunk and a three-ball coming from Deji Ibitayo for an 18 point lead (41-23) with 3:21 left in the first.
CSU went on a 10-2 run of its own to close the half, but UA remained ahead at 43-33 at the intermission.
The Zips returned to the floor and struggled to connect on 3-pointers, missing their first six attempts, allowing the Eagles to come within seven of the Zips by the 17:31 mark. UA went on to out-score CSU 10-3 over the next four minutes, bringing Akron to a 55-41 lead with 13:36 remaining.
UA kept the game out of reach, leading by at least 10 through the end of the game and held Coppin State to one field goal throughout the final four minutes for a game-high.
The Zips open Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday, Jan. 6, when they play host to defending MAC champion Western Michigan. Tip off between the Zips and the Broncos is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Zips Notebook: With Isaiah Johnson eclipsing the 10-point mark (13 tonight), 10 of Akron's 14 players have at least one 10-point game this season ... Johnson also had 13 points in his collegiate debut at Saint Mary's (Calif.) on Nov. 12, 2013 ... the Zips have forced 69 turnovers (23.0 tpg) thanks to 30 steals (10.0 spg) over the last three games.
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