Zips Fall 68-62 to No. 6 Nevada

Saturday, December 22

Reno, NV

7:00 pm

University of Akron

7-5

Nevada

12-0

Akron

Nevada

December 22 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Reno, Nev. – The Akron Zips battled until the buzzer as the No. 6 ranked Nevada Wolf Pack edged the Zips 68-62 in front of 10,825 fans at Lawlor Events Center on Saturday night.

For Akron (7-5), senior Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) led the scoring efforts with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. Juniors Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) and Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.) followed with double figures in scoring as Utomi recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Banks finished with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

Nevada (12-0) remained undefeated behind 19 points from each Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline. Martin added 10 rebounds to complete a double-double performance, while Jazz Johnson rounded out the team's double-digit scoring with 10 points.

The Zips controlled most of the first half with sophomore Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) starting the scoring on a corner 3-pointer. Jackson delivered again for the Zips first lead 6-3, and Utomi followed with an old-fashioned 3-point play for a 9-3 advantage at the 15-minute mark.

The Zips continued to play with the lead as Banks, Utomi and Ivey connected from deep mixed with a baseline jumper from Ivey. With 5:47 remaining in the first half, Akron built a nine-point lead, 20-11, but the home team didn't back down.

The Wolf Pack used three possessions to climb back into the game as Martin sent back-to-back 3-pointers through the net and Jordan followed with a third. Jordan completed an 11-0 run with a dunk, and for the first time since the opening tap, the Wolf Pack held a lead, 22-20 with 3:05 remaining.

The two teams battled back-and-forth in the closing minutes, but Nevada held a 28-25 halftime advantage. Caroline closed the half scoring the final 11 points for the Wolf Pack.

After the break, Utomi registered the first two points, 28-27, but Akron never regained control of the scoreboard. The Zips kept the game close and cut the Wolf Pack lead to three points on several occasions.

With 1:31 left to play, junior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) brought the Zips within three points, 60-57, for the final time on a dribble-drive down the lane. On the other end of the floor, Akron's defense held their ground, forcing a tough shot by the home team and Akron couldn't corral the rebound. With 45 seconds on the game clock and three seconds on the shot clock, Martin knocked down a 26-foot shot to lift Nevada to its final six-point lead.

Akron won the battle of the boards 38-35 while shooting 23-of-64 (.359) from the field and 10-of-28 (.357) from deep. Nevada made 21-of-50 (.420) of their shots from the floor while the Zips limited them to 8-of-24 (.333) shooting from deep.

The Zips will be back in action after the holiday break to close out non-conference play against Carnegie Mellon on Sunday, Dec. 30 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.