Cheese, Utomi Lead Akron to 70-58 Win Over Miami

Saturday, February 23

Akron, OH

2:00 pm

University of Akron

15-12 (7-7MAC)

Miami

14-13 (6-8MAC)

Miami (OH)

Akron Zips

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Cheese, Utomi Lead Akron to 70-58 Win Over Miami

February 23 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips took full advantage of their return home Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena, banking a 70-58 Mid-American Conference win over Miami to snap a three-game losing streak.

Junior guard Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) led all scorers with a career-high 27 points and tied for game-high honors with three of his team's nine steals, junior forward Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) added 19 for the Zips and sophomore guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) added 10 points and four assists.

After dropping their last two games on the road by a combined five points, the Zips (15-12, 7-7 MAC) started slowly but steadily powered their way past the RedHawks, building a lead in the first half and fending off Miami's efforts to rally in the second period.

The RedHawks (14-13, 6-8 MAC) came out of the locker room swinging in the second half, scoring the first seven points of the second stanza to pull to within three, 37-34, but Akron was able to respond moments later with an 11-2 run of its own to build its lead back to double digits at 55-42.

Good passing fueled the run - and the offense as a whole most of the day - as the Zips assisted on 16 of their 24 made field goals. Senior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio), who endured a tough shooting day, found plenty of other ways to contribute with a game-high seven assists and seven rebounds.

The Zips were able to stay undefeated at home this season in games they led at the half and at the same time, gained revenge on the RedHawks for a defeat in Oxford last month. Once again, it was the defense that led the Akron charge, including holding Miami to just 27 first-half points and 10-of-35 (28.6 percent) shooting in the opening frame.

Additionally, the Zips allowed Miami to make just one of its 10 attempts from behind the arc before intermission while sinking 7-of-16 triples to stake themselves to a 37-27 halftime edge. On offense, it was the Cheese and Utomi show for Akron, as the duo combined for 29 points to outscore the RedHawks all by themselves in the half.

Utomi laced four of his five 3-point attempts en route to 14 points, while Cheese made six of his eight field goal attempts on his way to 15 points before the break.

For the game, Akron shot 47.1 percent from the field (24-of-51) which included a 44.0 percent showing from long distance (11-of-25). The RedHawks won the battle of the boards, edging the Zips 42-37 while both teams committed 13 turnovers. Akron had nine steals compared to Miami's seven.

Akron takes to the road for its next game, traveling to take on the No. 24 Buffalo Bulls on Feb. 26 at Alumni Arena. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 1350-AM.