The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
22-4 (12-1MAC)
Toledo
13-13 (6-7MAC)
Zips' Win Streak Improves to 30 Games, Dambrot Earns 300th Win, 71-65, over Toledo
February 14 | Men's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio- The Akron Zips erased an 11-point second-half deficit and defeated the Toledo Rockets, 71-65, on Spectrum Sports Network at James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday night.
The win marks the 30th consecutive victory at James A. Rhodes Arena for the Zips and also marked the 300th career victory for head coach Keith Dambrot. In addition, the win against the Rockets halted a four-game skid for the Zips.
Senior forward Kwan Cheatham, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the way for the Zips (22-4, 12-1 MAC) with a game-high 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Senior center Isaiah Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while junior guard Antino Jackson (Houston, Texas) rounded out the Zips in double-digit scoring efforts with 13 points.
Steve Taylor poured in 13 points and pulled down 13 boards for the Rockets (13-13, 6-7 MAC). Nate Navigato added 13 points and Jonathan Williams chipped in 12 points and seven assists.
For the contest, the Zips shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field and connected on 35.5 percent (11-of-31) of their shots from beyond the arc. From the free throw line, the Zips converted 53.3 percent (8-of-15) of their attempts. The Rockets were successful on 43.4 percent (23-of-53) percent of their attempts from the floor and 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from downtown. Toledo converted 58.8 percent (10-of-17) of their free throw attempts.
Cheatham opened the scoring for the Zips, connecting on an early triple after junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) swiped an errant pass. Cheatham struck again from outside to give Akron a 6-3 lead early in the first half.
The Rockets retaliated with six-straight points to take a 9-6 lead after the first media timeout. Sophomore guard Josh Williams (Akron, Ohio) came off the bench and knocked down consecutive triples to put the Zips ahead 12-9 with 13 minutes remaining in the half.
However, Toledo took a 17-14 lead with 11 minutes to play in the initial stanza, but just one possession later, a Williams' jumper tied the game at 17 apiece.
Jackson buried a triple from the corner to push the Zips lead to four, but the Rockets fired back with a quick 5-0 run to take a one point lead. Jackson answered with another triple to put the Zips back ahead by 2 with just under four minutes to play, but the Rockets continued to score in short bursts. Toledo used a 9-3 run over the last four minutes of the half to take a 37-33 lead into the locker room.Â
In the second half, the Rockets were still firing on all cylinders, as they established their largest lead of the game with a 12-5 run for a 49-38 advantage at the 11:35 mark. During the run Cheatham buried a 3-ball for the Zips, and freshman forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) brought crowd to its feet with an alley-oop dunk from Jackson. Â
Cheatham ended the Rockets' run with an old fashioned three-point play and collected an offensive rebound on the ensuing possession and laid the ball back up to cut the Toledo lead to five, 50-45 with 8:47 left to play. After the under-8 media timeout, the Zips used a four-point swing to cut the deficit to one on the strength of a Cheatham jumper and a Johnson layup. Big Dog followed with another layup to give the Zips their first lead of the half, 53-52 with 6:11 remaining in the game.
A 3-pointer by Toledo put the game back in the Rockets favor, but Ivey answered with a triple from the corner and Akron never looked back.
The Zips continued to feed Johnson in the paint and used a layup to extend the Akron lead to six. Johnson converted an and-one on the following possession to give the Zips a nine-point lead with just 2:45 on the clock.
Jackson connected on a triple to keep the Zips ahead by eight, 67-59, with just over a minute remaining, but Toledo scored five quick points to reduce the Akron lead to just four, 67-63, with 1:01 left on the clock.
Cheatham and Robotham converted from the charity stripe in the final minute of the game to secure the victory for the Zips.
The Akron basketball team will be back in action at James A. Rhodes Arena for the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge rivalry game against Kent State on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. ESPNU will televise the game.
Due to the popularity of the rivalry, the game is already sold out. Students planning on attending the game are encouraged to purchase a $10 ticket to guarantee seating.
Fans can also follow the action on WatchESPN/ESPN3, GoZips.com via live stats, or by Zips' radio broadcast on Akron-IMG Sports Network available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.Â
