Akron Wins Season Opener 67-57 Over Cleveland State

Saturday, November 11

Akron, Ohio

7 p.m.

University of Akron

1-0

Cleveland State University

0-1

Team	1	2	F
Cleveland State	30	27	57
AKRON	22	45	67

Akron Wins Season Opener 67-57 Over Cleveland State

November 11 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – A new era of Akron Basketball began on Saturday evening as the Zips defeated Cleveland State, 67-57, in the season opener at James A. Rhodes Arena in the first of two games of the Northeast Ohio Coaches vs Cancer Doubleheader.

Akron outscored Cleveland State 45-27 in the second half to give first-year head coach John Groce his first win at Akron, becoming the Zips' first coach to debut with a win since Bob Huggins in 1985. In addition, it was head coach John Groce's first-career win against the Vikings as Akron increased the series record to 37-32, including the last four-straight games.

Akron had three players score in double figures as sophomore Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) led the scoring efforts with a career-high 20 points. Utomi shot 41.1 percent (7-of-17) from the floor, connecting on four 3-pointers while pulling down four rebounds. Freshman Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) ended the game with 17 points, six rebounds, and a steal, while junior Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

Cleveland State's Tyree Appleby led the Vikings' offensive efforts with 13 points, shooting 5-of-12 from the floor, followed by Kenny Carpenter with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The season opener was a tale of two halves as Cleveland State took a 30-22 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Ivey started the Zips' offense by hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the key for the first three points of the season. Utomi led Akron's first-half scoring attack, recording 10 points and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. Parrish followed with four first-half points.

With both teams not having scored for five minutes, Cleveland State hit a free-throw that ended the dry patch which put the Vikings up, 12-8. The Vikings' offense continued their scoring as Cleveland State went on an 8-0 scoring run for a 12-point, 24-12 lead. Moments later, Akron cut the deficit to 24-18 with back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Craig Eubanks (Cleveland, Ohio) and Utomi, forcing CSU to spend a timeout.

Over the next three minutes, CSU extended its lead to 30-19, before Utomi nailed his second 3-pointer of the half that kept the Zips within striking distance as they headed into the locker room trailing by eight.

Akron's offense ignited to start the second half. Within the first three minutes of the second half, a Parrish dunk and a three-point play lead to a Zips 6-0 scoring run which cut the game to four points, 36-32. With 16:55 left to play, a pair of free throws from freshman Torrey Patton (Trotwood, Ohio) narrowed the Vikings lead to two points, 36-34.

Minutes later, Utomi knocked down a clutch three that tied the game at 37. With 12:00 left to play, a put-back from Parrish off of a missed three, gave the Zips a 41-39 lead, the first lead since Ivey's three in the beginning of the game. A booming dunk off of a fast break from senior Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Canada) extended the Zips lead to 45-39.

Akron continued scoring as a jumper from Ivey gave the Zips their largest lead of the game, 11 points, forcing the Vikings to take a timeout with Akron leading, 53-42. The Vikings answered with a run of their own, scoring six-consecutive points that erased the Zips lead to five, 54-49, with 4:54 left to play in the game. Akron responded with a 7-1 run that put the Zips ahead, 61-50. During the run, Ivey hit a shot beyond the arc en route to Akron completing the 67-57 victory over Cleveland State.

Akron held a 46-38 advantage on the glass, while CSU posted a 40.0 shooting percentage which was slightly higher than the Zips' 31.3 percent effort.

The Zips are back in action Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. for a matchup against UT Martin. Saturday's game will be broadcasted on ESPN 3.