Akron Defeats Western Michigan 84-69 in MAC Home Opener, Stays Unbeaten at JAR

Tuesday, January 7

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

12-3,2-0MAC

Western Michigan

8-7,1-1MAC

Western Mich.

Akron

Akron Defeats Western Michigan 84-69 in MAC Home Opener, Stays Unbeaten at JAR

January 07 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Postgame Press Conference and Highlights

AKRON, Ohio – For the second time in as many league outings, the Zips made it a long night for an opposing offense, this time blanketing the visiting Western Michigan Broncos in an 84-69 win on Tuesday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Three days after limiting Eastern Michigan to just 45 points in a MAC-opening road win, Akron (12-3, 2-0 MAC) held the Broncos (8-7, 1-1 MAC) to 31.8-percent first-half shooting and just 23 first-half points en route to a 2-0 MAC record and a third straight win, as well as a 9-0 home record.

Junior Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.), who was recently named MAC East Player of the Week, led the Zips offense with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds. He buried 4-of-9 long-distance shots and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Senior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) also had a 20-plus point performance, registering 25 points while shooting 50-percent from the floor (8-of-16), grabbing five rebounds and dishing-out three assists with a pair of steals.

Senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) rounded out Akron's double-digit scoring with a stellar all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Jackson reserved his best play for the game's biggest moments, including a trio of triples on three straight Akron possessions in the second half the help repel a Western Michigan rally midway through the half.

Jackson's 3-point barrage helped Akron fend off the Broncos and even when his attempt at a fourth straight trifectas was off the mark, junior center Deng Riak (Melbourne, Australia) secured the rebound and finished the possession with a jump hook from the right block to keep the Akron momentum going.

The hosts were able to sustain that momentum down the stretch with clutch long-range shooting and on the night, they outscored the Broncos 33-21 from 3-point range.
Still, it was the defense that kept Akron in control all night long as the Zips took numerous charges and used their length to consistently contest shots both inside and on the perimeter.

Cheese and Williams each recorded two steals to spearhead the Akron defensive attack and helped their team create 22 turnovers, which the Zips converted in 32 points.
Their 32-8 margin in points off turnovers underscored their defensive dominance and a 32-30 rebounding edge made the point even more emphatically.

That strong defense was on display from the start as Akron built a double-digit lead early on with its fierce resistance to anything the visitors tried to do offensively, limiting Western Michigan to one made 3-pointer in the opening 20 minutes and allowing the Broncos to snare just two offensive rebounds while forcing 12 turnovers.

That combination meant that the visitors recorded a mere 22 field goal attempts before intermission and Akron's lead swelled to double digits just 3:16 into the contest. It increased to as many as 15 and never dipped below nine before the half as the Zips simply refused to allow the Broncos clean looks at the basket.

Akron remains at home for its next contest, welcoming Ball State to town for a third straight game against a MAC West rival on Friday at 9 p.m. The contest can be seen on CBS Sports Network and heard on 1350-AM as the Zips look to record their 10th straight home win and remain atop the MAC East early in the conference season.