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Zips' run at Mid-American Conference Tournament ends with 68-59 setback versus Buffalo
March 13 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips shot just 3-for-14 from the field over the final 10 minutes of the second half and dropped a 68-59 decision to second-seeded Buffalo in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Zips (21-14) led briefly in the second half with five minutes to play, but could not hold on against a strong Buffalo team.
Junior Jake Kretzer (Bainbridge, Ohio) scored 10 of his team-high 12 points in the first half to lead the Zips. Senior Deji Ibitayo (Chicago, Ill.) added another 10 points and four rebounds. Junior Pat Forsythe (Brunswick, Ohio) and senior Nyles Evans (North Canton, Ohio) scored eight apiece.
Akron closed the game shooting 37.3 percent from the field (19-of-51) and just 23.3 percent (7-of-30) from beyond the arc. Buffalo (22-9) connected at a 36.1 percent clip from the field (22-of-61) and just 15.4 percent from long range (2-of-13).
Buffalo's Xavier Ford recorded a double-double with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Zips and Bulls battled back-and-forth in the first four minutes of the game. Akron took an early lead, 10-7, when Evans drove to the basket at the 16:09 mark in the first half.
A quick 7-0 run for the Zips extended the Akron lead to seven, 17-10, with 12:12 to play in the first half. Forsythe capped off the run for the Zips with a hook shot from the baseline.
Kretzer and junior Reggie McAdams (Elida, Ohio) hit back-to-back three-pointers midway through the half to give the Zips a 23-15 lead. Kretzer and McAdams shot just 1-for-8 from beyond the arc against Kent on Thursday, March 12, but started 3-for-5 against Buffalo.
Buffalo used a 7-0 run of their own to bring it within one point of the Zips, 23-22. Ford put back a missed jumper by Shannon Evans with authority at the 7:38 mark. The Bulls regained the lead on their next possession.
The Zips closed the gap on the Bulls and trailed by just one, 33-32, going into halftime.
Buffalo scored three quick baskets as the second half play resumed. Justin Moss hit a jumper from the baseline and Ford made two lay-ups to give the Bulls a 39-32 lead.
Akron made only one field goal on seven attempts in the first five minutes of the second half. In that time Buffalo extended its lead to 43-34.
A 10-2 run for the Zips brought them within one of the Bulls, 45-44, with 8:10 to play in the game. Ibitayo and Evans both hit two free throws to bring them within striking distance.
On the next Akron possession Evans again drove the lane, got fouled and hit another pair of free throws to take the lead.
In the next three minutes the lead changed four times. The last lead change occurred when Buffalo's Will Regan hit a wide-open three-pointer to give Buffalo a 52-49 lead with 5:12 to play.
Buffalo led by seven, 56-49, courtesy of an 8-0 run with 3:02 to play. Freshman Antino Jackson Jr. (Houston, Texas) ended the Bulls run with his first three-pointer of the night.
Akron pulled within four points of the Bulls when Jackson hit two free throws with 1:27 to play, but the Zips could not make a field goal in the last minute to get any closer.
Akron will now await word on its postseason destination.
