Akron Downs USC Upstate for Third-Straight Home Win

Monday, November 18

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

3-1,0-0MAC

South Carolina - Upstate

1-4,0-0Big South

USC Upstate

Akron

Akron Downs USC Upstate for Third-Straight Home Win

November 18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Postgame Press Conference and Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips opened Monday evening's game with a 10-0 run and never looked back as the Zips defeated South Carolina Upstate 76-45 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Junior Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) paced the Zips offensively with 18 points on 5-of-10 (.500) shooting from the floor and 2-of-5 (.400) from deep. He dished out a team-best four assists and pulled down five rebounds.

Freshmen Greg Tribble (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Camron Reece (Oakland, Calif.) followed with career-best performances, both scoring career-highs with 11 and 10 points, respectively, to round out Akron's double-digit scorers.

Defensively, senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) led the way as he rejected four USC Upstate shot attempts as Akron totaled six blocked shots. Williams also led the Zips on the glass, grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds while adding nine points. For the third time in four games, Williams was one-rebound or one-point shy of a double-double. Williams has seven total blocks in the last two outings and 11 for the season.

In the first half, Reece started the scoring with two strong post moves to get the Zips out to a four-point lead, 4-0. After a third defensive stop, Williams first blocked shot, Jackson hit a pull-up 3-pointer in transition. The Zips would strike again before the Spartans touched the scoreboard as senior Deng Riak (Melbourne, Australia) split a pair of free throws and Tribble got loose on a fastbreak for layup after Williams second denial of the night.

Akron (3-1) held the Spartans scoreless for the opening five minutes by forcing a pair of turnovers and recording three blocked shots. During that stretch, USC Upstate (1-4) was 0-of-5 shooting from the field. After the initial media timeout, USC Upstate finally had a shot fall as Everette Hammond buried a tough mid-range jumper.

The Zips retaliated by pushing the ball down the floor and turning a USC Upstate made shot into a fastbreak that ended with Jackson lofting a pass in the air and Williams sending it home with a dunk. The crowed at the JAR erupted and Akron continued to increase the lead and apply defensive pressure.

By the 4:18 mark, Akron established its largest lead of the half, 30-18, as freshman Ali Ali (Kendallville, Ind.) buried 2-of-3 free throws after being fouled while attempting a triple from the corner.

At the break, Akron led 32-21 while limiting USC Upstate to just 8-of-34 shooting from the field and 2-of-9 from deep. However, the Spartans held a slight advantage on the glass, 23-21. The Zips finished the first half shooting 10-of-24 from the field.

Akron opened the second frame with a 10-0 run behind four consecutive free throws and back-to-back triples from Jackson and senior Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.), 42-21. Akron pushed the lead to as many as 35 points, 73-38, as the Zips cruised to the third home win of the season, 76-45.

Akron did not allow a player from USC Upstate to reach double figures in scoring as Nevin Zink led the Spartans with nine points. The Zips ended up winning the battle of the boards 46-42.

Akron completes the three-game homestand at James A. Rhodes Arena on Thursday, Nov. 21 against Youngstown State at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The Zips will finish the Global Sports Shootout against No. 4/5 Louisville Cardinals in Louisville, Ky. at the KFC YUM! Center on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. on the ACC Network.