Akron Closes 2019 with 85-79 Win Over UMass

Monday, December 30

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

10-3,0-0MAC

Massachusetts

6-7,0-0Atlantic 10

Massachusetts

Akron

December 30 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Postgame Press Conference and Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – Behind a long-distance barrage from junior guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) to open the game and another from senior guard Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.) to close it out, the Akron Zips made quick work of the visiting UMass Minutemen in an 85-79 home win Monday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Jackson laced five 3-pointers in a row to begin the game, a career-high, and tallied a game-high 26 points on the night. Banks had all 21 of his points in the second half alone - including four triples - and also snared six rebounds on the night. Banks' 21-point effort was also a career-high.

Senior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) was the third Akron player in double figures for the night, chipping in with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win. Senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) corralled a game-high 12 rebounds, while junior Camron Reece (Oakland, Calif.) secured eight boards and chipped-in nine points.

Bench scoring was one area where Akron set itself apart, outscoring the Minutemen 15-2 in that category. It helped offset a tough first half at the foul line for the Zips (10-3) as they converted just 3 of 6 of their charity tosses in the opening 20 minutes. Those misses cost the hosts valuable chances to build, maintain and sustain leads, but clutch shooting at the line down the stretch was key in holding on for the win.

In the tune-up for their Mid-American Conference opener in five days, the Zips missed 10 of their first 12 shots after the break and had trouble finding a rhythm against a trapping UMass defense that forced 16 turnovers on the night.

Banks helped stem the tide for Akron with his team struggling, notching nine of the Zips first 15 points coming out of intermission.

It was a hectic finish that stood in stark contrast to the first half, when Akron, behind Jackson's scorching start from beyond the arc, edged out to a big early lead, building its edge to as many as 17 points (38-21) late in the opening frame before UMass chipped away at the lead and crept within seven points at the break, 40-33.

Freshman guard Sean East led the visitors in scoring and fueled the run that put the Minutemen (6-7) back in the game, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second half that saw the Zips struggle with full-court pressure from UMass and set up multiple transition buckets with turnovers.

A triple by UMass junior guard Carl Pierre sliced the Akron lead to one, 42-41, just minutes into the second half and the Minutemen took the lead moments later before Banks knocked down a key corner 3-pointer to put the Zips back in the lead, 45-43.

A seesaw affair unfolded over the remaining 15 minutes, with multiple big shots and lead changes. Neither team was able to create much separation as high-intensity defense saw a multitude of tips, block, deflections and steals.

Ultimately, it was Akron that clutched up in the closing minutes to keep its home record undefeated this season.

East led UMass with 26 points in the loss and Pierre was close behind with 23 for the visitors.

The Zips held a 45-39 edge on the glass.

Akron makes a quick turnaround for its next game, taking to the road for its MAC opener against Eastern Michigan. The contest in Ypsilanti, Mich. tips off at noon on Jan. 4 as Akron seeks to ring in the new year with a road win to kick off conference play. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 1350-AM.