Zips Defeat Bobcats 71-68 for Second Consecutive MAC Win

Tuesday, January 23

Akron, OH

7 p.m.

University of Akron

10-9(3-4MAC)

Ohio

9-10(2-5MAC)

OHIO

AKRON

Zips Defeat Bobcats 71-68 for Second Consecutive MAC Win

January 23 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – A career night from freshman center Mark Kostelac (Cleveland, Ohio) and a big night from beyond the arc powered the Akron Zips to their second straight win as they held off the Ohio Bobcats 71-68 in Mid-American Conference action Tuesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Kostelac, who eclipsed 20 minutes of playing time for the third straight contest, scored several key baskets late in the game on his way to 10 points and three rebounds. Junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) led the Zips (10-9, 3-4 MAC) with 17 points, including two clutch free throws with 20 seconds remaining and Akron clinging to a 67-66 lead. The Zips played good defense on the ensuing Ohio possession, forcing a missed shot, and freshman guard Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisc.) made two additional free throws to salt away the win in the closing seconds.

Graduate transfer guard Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ohio) had 16 points and made 4-of-6 shots from beyond the arc and sophomore guard Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) both scored 13 points to give Akron four players in double figures. Ivey had seven points, including a clutch 3-pointer, to punctuate a 9-0 run that put Akron in front after Ohio tied the game for the final time at 58-all with 5:35 remaining on a layup by junior guard Jordan Dartis.

After trailing by double digits for much of the first half, Ohio battled its way back into the game by forcing turnovers, pulling to within one at 42-41 with 14:55 remaining in the second half. Akron responded with a 10-4 run keyed by 3-pointers by Utomi and Duvivier, bumping the lead back to seven.

The Bobcats (9-10, 2-5 MAC) were finally able to tie the game at 52-all on a long 3-pointer by junior forward Gavin Block, but the Zips responded once more to retake the lead and the contest was tied several more times down the stretch.

The Zips used another hot-shooting opening half to establish a large early lead, seeing their edge swell to as many as 14 at 25-11 as they capped a 12-0 run in which they made all six of their field goal attempts, with two free throws by Duvivier.

Ohio was able to rally late in the half thanks to 12 points by freshman guard Teyvion Kirk, but after the Bobcats narrowed their deficit to four at 31-27, a three-point play by freshman guard Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) helped Akron regain some momentum and take a 36-29 edge to the locker room at intermission.

Akron benefited from avoiding the foul trouble that has plagued it in recent home games, as the Zips were whistled for just 17 fouls on the night, including only seven in the first half. That limited the Bobcats to only four free throws in the opening 20 minutes and 14 overall.

With the victory, Akron has won consecutive games in MAC play for the first time this season and will look to carry that momentum into its next game, which is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27 at noon against Ball State in Muncie, Ind. The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network and heard on 1350-AM.