Five Score Double Digits as Akron Defeats Top-Ranked Ohio, 91-83

Friday, February 25

6 PM

University of Akron

19-9,12-6MAC

Ohio

23-6,14-4MAC

Akron

Ohio

Five Score Double Digits as Akron Defeats Top-Ranked Ohio, 91-83

February 25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Five Score Double Digits as Akron Defeats Top-Ranked Ohio, 91-83
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ATHENS, Ohio – Akron had five players score in double figures as the Zips defeated the top-ranked Ohio Bobcats 91-83 at the Ohio Convocation Center on CBS Sports Network Friday night.

Sophomore Ali Ali (Kendallville, Ind.) led the Zips with 22 points on a stellar 9-of-13 shooting performance from the field. He was nearly flawless in the first half, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 1-of-2 from deep. Sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) also had a big first half, scoring 10 of his 14 points while grabbing nine rebounds.

The Zips (19-9, 12-6 MAC) scorched the Bobcats (23-6, 14-4 MAC) for 64.3 percent shooting in the initial 20 minutes (18-of-28) and only committed three turnovers, taking a commanding 20-point advantage into the locker room at halftime, 46-26.

Zips continued to have the hot hand in the second half, as sophomore Greg Tribble (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored 13 of his 17 total points in the final stanza. He shot 6-of-8 for the game, while sophomore Mikal Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) tallied 10 second-half points en route to 15 points for the game. Junior Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) added eight of his 10 points in the final frame as Akron shot 60 percent from the floor (12-of-20), draining 12-of-15 two-point field goals.

Akron led by as many as 22 points before the Bobcats' late game surge cut the deficit to eight points. The Zips led for 38:12 while Ohio only had a one-point lead for 17 seconds. Akron outrebounded the Bobcats 33-23.

Mark Sears led Ohio's scoring with 20 points while Ben Vander Plas (17), Jason Carter (17), Tommy Schmock (14) and Miles Brown (11) all scored in double figures.

Akron is nearing the end of #MACtion regular season play, traveling to Muncie, Ind. to battle Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday, March 1 on ESPN3. Fans can also follow the action on Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (analyst) or live stats on GoZips.com.