Zips Outscored Down the Stretch by Toledo, 63-52

Tuesday, February 5

Toledo, OH

7:00 pm

University of Akron

Toledo

Akron

Toledo

Zips Outscored Down the Stretch by Toledo, 63-52

February 05 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Toledo, Ohio – The Akron Zips fell 63-52 in a tightly played game on the road at Savage Arena against Toledo on Tuesday.

The Mid-American Conference's two top-ranked defenses collided and points were at a premium as Toledo (19-4, 7-3 MAC) used the final 3:25 for an 11-2 run to secure the league win.

Akron (13-9, 5-4 MAC) limited the Rockets to 63 points, 16.5 points below their scoring average, but the Toledo defense also made it tough for the Zips. Akron was led in scoring by junior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.), who finished with 19 points which included 15 second-half points. In addition, Cheese secured six rebounds and dished out three assists.

Junior Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) and sophomore Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) followed. Utomi posted his second double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Jackson also scored 11 points and junior Deng Riak (Melbourne, Australia) pulled down a second-best nine boards.

A closely played first half ended in a nine-point advantage for the home team as Toledo scored the final two baskets of the first stanza with under a minute to play. Nate Navigato connected in the paint for two of his 11 total points, and Chris Darrington buried a triple to send the Rockets into the locker room with a 29-20 advantage.

Toledo started the second-half scoring and establish an 11-point lead, but the Zips used a 16-0 run to overhaul the scoreboard. Cheese scored the initial four points and junior Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.) added a triple from the top of the key.

Cheese and Banks added more firepower as both recorded points in the paint, and Jackson added a bucket which gave Akron a 33-31 lead at the 13:23 mark. Cheese finished the run with an old-fashioned 3-point play, which lifted Akron to its largest lead of the game at 36-31 with 12:08 left to play.

From there, the game went back-and-forth as Toledo tied the game four times and Akron regained the lead five times to stay ahead 44-42 at the 7:04 mark. The Rockets answered a fifth time, but grabbed the lead as Spencer Littleson buried a 3-pointer for a one-point advantage, 45-44.

With 3:42 remaining, UT's Navigato pushed it two a two-possession game, 52-48, but Utomi answered with a fadeaway near the lane with 3:25 remaining. The Rockets held Akron scoreless for the next two minutes and scored seven points in the process, 59-50.

Cheese broke the Zips' scoring silence with a pair of free throws, and the Rockets leading scorer Jaelan Sanford buried four consecutive free throws down the stretch to secure the win. Sanford had 17 points.

Akron will host the first installment of the crosstown grudge match against Kent State. The Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge showdown was moved to Friday, Feb. 8 at James A. Rhodes Arena and features a 9 p.m. tip-off time to be aired on ESPNU. Fans can also follow the action on Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) with Steve French calling the action and Joe Dunn providing analysis. The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.