Zips Battle, Rockets Pull Away in Final Minutes 67-65

Friday, January 5

Toledo, OH

6:30 p.m.

University of Akron

7-7 (0-2MAC)

Toledo

9-6 (1-1MAC

AKRON

TOLEDO

Zips Battle, Rockets Pull Away in Final Minutes 67-65

January 05 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Groce on Twitter
Box Score PDF | Game Notes PDF | Live Stats | CBSSN | Akron-IMG Sports Network | Season Tickets | Akron Basketball Schedule

Toledo, Ohio – The Akron Zips turned a 10-point first-half deficit into a one-point lead late in the game, but fell, 67-65, two points shy of their first road win against Toledo on CBS Sports Network Friday night at Savage Arena.

Akron (7-7, 0-2) limited Toledo (9-6, 1-1) to just 35 percent shooting (7-of-20) in the final 20 minutes, but with 14 seconds left to play UT's Jaelan Sanford buried a floater in the middle of the lane to give the Rockets a 64-62 advantage. Sanford led the Rockets with 22 points while Tre'Shaun Fletcher posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Sophomore Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) paced the Zips with 19 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep and 7-of-12 overall. Freshman Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) followed with 17 points, scoring nine-straight points in the first half to keep the Zips within striking distance. Parrish added seven rebounds as Akron held a 35-29 advantage on the backboard.

Graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ontario) rounded out the double-digit scoring with 14 points, while junior Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) led the Zips on the glass with 10 boards and six points.

The Zips' halftime adjustments limited Toledo to just three made field goals with about 6:30 left to play in the game. However, the Rockets continued to hold a 1-to-2 possession advantage at the free throw line.

Akron opened the second frame with a 16-5 run capped by an Ivey 3-pointer to bring the Zips within one-point of regaining the lead for the first time since 12:58 in the first half. Trailing 47-46, the Rockets split a two-shot foul and recorded their second field goal of the half (10:17) to push the lead back to four points, 50-46.

Parrish followed with a spin move through the middle of the lane and finished off the glass, while Duvivier tied the game at 50 with a mid-range jumper. Two minutes later, the duo completed the same series, but this time, Akron claimed a one-point lead, 55-54, with 4:58 remaining in the game.

Toledo responded with a pair of free throws and a dunk from Fletcher to the Rockets another 3-point advantage, 58-55.

Parrish came up big again, finishing in the paint to bring the Zips within one-point, 58-57.

Sanford created distance on the scoreboard again with a conventional 3-point play and followed by splitting a pair of bonus buckets.

With 2:22 left to play, Utomi buried a triple from baseline to cut the home team's advantage to two-points 62-60.

The two teams traded buckets, and Toledo pushed the lead back to five as Sanford buried the runner and Willie Jackson split a pair of free throws after the Zips were forced to foul after a turnover. Ivey buried a 3-pointer as time expired.

Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for its Mid-American Conference home opener against Buffalo on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Fans can follow the action on ESPN3, 1350-AM, or GoZips.com.