Zips Outlast Mountaineers in Weather Delayed Game, 94-89

Saturday, December 9

Akron, Ohio

7 p.m.

University of Akron

5-2

Appalachian State

5-6

APPALACHIAN STATE

AKRON

Zips Outlast Mountaineers in Weather Delayed Game, 94-89

December 09 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – For the second straight game, the Akron Zips fell behind early and for the second straight game, they roared back for a high-scoring win, downing the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers 94-89 on Saturday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron used a 12-3 run from the 4:32 mark of the second half to seize back control of the game until a 3-pointer by Appalachian State's Tyrell Johnson snapped the run and made the score 88-82 with 46.5 seconds remaining. After rallying from a 79-76 deficit, the Zips then held off the Mountaineers down the stretch despite losing two starters to fouls late in the game.

Graduate transfer guard Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Canada) led Akron with a career-high 24 points, including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers. The Akron offense was again a balanced attack, with all five starters scoring eight or more points for the second game in a row. As a team, Akron shot 56.7 percent (34-of-60) from the field and 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from long range in a winning effort.

Sophomore guard Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) posted his second double-double of his career and season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) also notched a double-double on 15 points and 10 assists. Sophomore forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) tallied 15 for the hosts, who shot 18-of-30 from the field, including 8-of-12 on 3-pointers in the opening half as good ball moment and a fast pace led to a 47-38 Zips lead at the break.

Akron shot the ball exceptionally well in the first 20 minutes as Duvivier made 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for an early 13 points. As a team, the Zips had assists on 17 of their 18 baskets prior the break.

Ivey was a pinpoint passer, dishing out seven assists in the first half and finishing with a career-best 10 dimes in the win.

Early foul trouble plagued Olojakpoke (three fouls) and freshman guard Eric Parrish (two) in the first 20 minutes, but solid play off the bench by freshman forward Jayden Sales (Cincinnati, Ohio) and freshman guard Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisc.) kept the Zips on pace.

Olojakpoke eventually fouled out with 2:40 remaining in the game, but not before grabbing four rebounds and blocking two shots. Ivey fouled out two minutes later, leaving Akron without two of its veteran leaders in the final minute.

The contest was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but was delayed by five hours due to travel problems Appalachian State faced with a winter storm that moved through North Carolina over the past two days.

Still, the visitors showed no signs of travel fatigue as they burst out to a 12-4 lead as Griffin Kinney (25 points) and Ronshad Shabazz (26 points) split their team's first 12 points evenly. The duo led the visitors in scoring and combined for 51 of their team's 89 points.

Akron battled back from its early deficit behind Duvivier and Ivey, taking its first lead since the game's opening minute when freshman guard Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) converted a layup at the 11:59 mark, staking the Zips to a 15-14 edge they maintained for all but 18 seconds of the half.

The Zips return to action on Dec. 16, when they host Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN3 and will also be broadcast on 1350-AM.