Zips Fall on Late Shot by Buffalo, 77-74

Tuesday, January 28

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

16-5,6-2MAC

Buffalo

14-7,5-3MAC

Buffalo

Akron

January 28 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Post Game Presser and Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – Playing from behind all game long, the Akron Zips couldn't overcome the visiting Buffalo Bulls in a 77-74 loss in Mid-American Conference action Tuesday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Junior Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 28 points and a team-best six assists, while senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) contributed 12 points.

A game-winning 3-pointer from the wing by Buffalo senior Antwain Johnson with 6.1 seconds left sealed the win for the Bulls after the Zips tied the game at 74-all on three consecutive free throws by Jackson seconds earlier.

An early cold spell from the field put Akron in a chase position, and while the Zips were able to narrow their deficit to one on multiple occasions in the second half, they were never able to retake the lead in suffering just their second home loss of the season.

Still, Jackson kept coming up with several big buckets down the stretch, including an off-balance 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired midway through the second half, drawing Akron to within a point, 54-53, and moments later drilling a triple from beyond NBA range to breathe life into his team after the Bulls had claimed a six-point lead.

He also played a big role when, facing a 10-point deficit early in the second half, Akron amped up its defensive intensity and sparked a 9-0 run that trimmed the deficit to 40-39, prompting a Buffalo timeout and energizing the Rhodes Arena crowd.

Back-to-back steals by Jackson and Cheese led to successive layups to cap the run, allowing the Zips (16-5, 6-2 MAC) to claw their way back into the contest. It was a theme that repeated itself on a smaller scale throughout the final 15 minutes of the game, with Akron staging one run after another, but never able to fully wrest control away from the visitors.

The first half was an offensive struggle for both teams as neither side shot even 30 percent for the opening 20 minutes. Defense prevailed as the Zips and Bulls (14-7, 5-3 MAC) forced one tough shot after another, making a combined 6-of-28 shots from beyond the arc before intermission.

Jackson, despite a cold start from the field, led the way for Akron in the first half with eight points, including a clutch 3-pointer from the right wing in the final minute to narrow Buffalo's halftime lead to eight points, 33-25, and give the Zips a much-needed jolt heading to the locker room.

Johnson led Buffalo with 21 points and Akron native Jayvon Graves added 11 for the Bulls.

Akron bounces back with a short trek up I-76 East to Kent for the first of two Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge matchups this season between the Zips and Golden Flashes. The contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday at the MAC Center, with the contest being televised on CBS Sports Network and broadcast on 1350-AM.