Akron Ends November with Five Wins after Defeating Merrimack, 64-47

Friday, November 29

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

5-2,0-0MAC

Merrimack

5-4,0-0NEC

Merrimack

Akron

Akron Ends November with Five Wins after Defeating Merrimack, 64-47

November 29 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Postgame Press Conference

AKRON, Ohio – Showing no Thanksgiving hangover, the Akron Zips sunk visiting Merrimack College 64-47 Friday evening in a non-conference tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips (5-2) rebounded from their second loss of the 2019-20 campaign, five days earlier against No. 2 Louisville, to dominate the Warriors behind a suffocating defense, a game-high 20 points from senior guard Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) and an outstanding all-around effort by senior wing Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio), who tallied his first double-double in an Akron uniform with 14 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three assists in the win.

Akron was plus-22 in Williams' 26 minutes on the court, the best plus/minus for any Zips player on the night. Cheese had a solid all-around game of his own, filling out his stat line with seven assists, five rebounds and a steal while draining a team-best four 3-pointers.

Williams helped set the tone early with a 3-pointer and a short-range floater as Akron steadily built a double-digit lead. Thanks to an aggressive defense that included some full-court pressure, the Zips harassed Merrimack into 32.3-percent (10-of-31) shooting before the break. They also pressured the Warriors (5-4) into seven first-half turnovers on their way to a 33-20 halftime lead.

With the Zips switching screens and pressuring the ball on the perimeter, the Warriors shot a scant 10 percent (2-of-20) from beyond the arc and even when they earned their way to the foul line, the shots simply wouldn't fall as they missed four of their eight charity tosses.

Controlling the glass was also a key for the Zips in the win as they outrebounded Merrimack 34-29 and held the visitors to seven second-chance points. It was a true team effort on the glass as five players had three or more rebounds for Akron.

Playing at home for the first time in eight days, the Zips led from start to finish, building their edge to as many as 16 points along the way and fending off numerous attempted rallies by the persistent Warriors. The closest Merrimack could get was nine points midway through the second half, but Akron torpedoed that rally and kept the pressure on down the stretch to earn its fifth win in the first month of the season.

Senior guard Jaleel Lord led Merrimack with 11 points in its first-ever visit to Akron, while freshman forward Jordan Minor led the visitors in rebounding with eight caroms on the evening.

Akron has four days to rest and recover before heading on the road to Huntington, W.Va. to face the Marshall Thundering Herd on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center. The game can be heard on 1350-AM.