The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
14-4, 3-2MAC
Eastern Michigan
10-8, 2-3MAC
Zips Snap Two-Game Skid, Remain Unbeaten at Rhodes Arena
January 19 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's basketball team remains unbeaten at home, and the Zips snap a two-game losing skid behind senior wing Reggie McAdams (Elida, Ohio) big night from long distance in a 92-88 win over Eastern Michigan Tuesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Akron Zips improve to 14-4 (3-2 MAC) with the win over the Eagles as Eastern Michigan drops to 10-8 (2-3 MAC)
Four Zips scored double-figures with McAdams leading the way with a game-high 28 points as he set a new career record with seven three-pointers made (7-for-12). Junior center Isaiah Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored 22 points and pulled down eight boards off the glass while senior center Pat Forsythe (Brunswick, Ohio) and sophomore guard Noah Robotham (Las Vegas, Nevada) added 11 each.
Eastern Michigan's had five different players score in double-digits. Willie Mangum IV had a team-high 22 points. Tim Bond was the Eagles second leading scorer while dishing out five assists.
For the game, Akron shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55), improving 12.8 percent after the first half, and an even 50 percent (13-of-26) from beyond the three-point line. The Eagles made 30-of-58 for a 51.7 percent clip from the floor while going 52.9 percent clip (9-for-17) from long range.
The first five minutes of the game went back-and-forth. After trailing 3-0, McAdams was fouled shooting a three-pointer from the left corner and hit all three free throws. Jackson then drove the middle of the lane, almost lost the ball but muscled up a pass to Forstyhe for an ally-oop slam dunk. Forsythe scored another two when he backed down his defender and used a left hook to score.
The Zips led for over five minutes in the first 12 minutes of the half but at the 9:24 mark of the game, the Eagles regained the lead and went on a 13-0 run to take a 24-16 lead. Eastern Michigan hit a trio of three pointers, a lay-up and a dunk as the Akron went scoreless for four minutes before Jimond Ivy dunked an easy two.
Akron cut the Eastern Michigan lead to as little as five points in the remaining minutes of the first half, but went into the break trailing 40-34. The Eagles shot a very efficient 53.6 percent from the floor in the initial 20 minutes while the Zips shot 23.5 percent.
The second half of the game began with McAdams raining three's from all over the court. McAdams went 3-for-3 from long range in the first 1:40 of the second half to give the Zips the lead back, 43-42.
After the Zips took back the lead, the game would stay within three points for the next five minutes that included multiple lead changes and ties. The Akron offense had a small spark in the at the 14:10 mark when they rattled off six in a row to take a 59-52 lead from a layup and 10 foot jumper from Forsythe and a pair of free throws from Johnson.
An Eastern Michigan 8-0 run helped the Eagles take control of the lead 71-70 at the five-minute mark. The Zips then countered the run scoring four in the row from a Jackson three-pointer form the top of the arc and a foul shot from McAdams gave Akron a 74-71 lead with 4:15 to play.
The Zips led by as many as nine points in the final four minutes before holding off a last ditched effort by the Eagles to close out the game 91-85.
The Akron basketball team will continue Mid-American Conference play against East Division rival Miami (Ohio) for the Zips' Third-Annual "Purple Out" event on Fri., Jan 23 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The "Purple Out" event will be a celebration of the life of former Director of Basketball Operations Dan Peters – also known as "Pete" – who passed away on October 27, 2014, after battling pancreatic cancer. Fans can follow the action live via live stats and/or free web stream on GoZips.com or by Zips' radio broadcast on Akron-IMG Sports Network available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
