Akron Punches its Ticket to the NCAA Tournament with 75-55 Win Over Rival Kent State in MAC Championship Game

Saturday, March 12

Cleveland, Ohio

7:30 PM

University of Akron

24-9,14-6MAC

Kent State

23-10,16-4MAC

Akron

Kent St.

Akron Punches its Ticket to the NCAA Tournament with 75-55 Win Over Rival Kent State in MAC Championship Game

March 12 | Men's Basketball

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - A 23-point performance from sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) propelled The University of Akron men's basketball team into NCAA Tournament on the strength of a 75-55 victory over rival Kent State (23-10) in the championship game of the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 12 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The Zips (24-9) garnered their fourth MAC Tournament crown and first since the 2012-13 season on the strength of four Akron players scoring in double figures led by Freeman's game-high 23-point performance. He was joined in double figures by 15, 15 and 11 points, respectively, from sophomore Ali Ali (Kendallville, Ind.), junior Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) and freshman Garvin Clarke (Euclid, Ohio).

Freeman was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Ali and Castaneda joined him on the All-Tournament team.

The Zips' defensive performance on the night forced Kent State into 19 turnovers, which Akron converted into a 20-10 advantage in points off of turnovers.

Akron wrapped up the championship shooting more than 52 percent from the field, while firing at a .526 clip from beyond the arc making 10-of-19 attempts. Kent State's offensive efforts were thwarted in the second half as the Golden Flashes shot 37.5 percent from the field over the game's final 20 minutes en route to connecting on 46.8 percent on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Freeman opened the game with a driving dunk to give the Zips the early advantage before the Golden Flashes responded with a 11-1 run, including a pair of three pointers, to assume a 11-3 lead following the initial media timeout (15:55).
• Ali ended the run with a step-back triple from the top of the arc at the 15:04 mark before adding another rainmaker to send Akron into the second media timeout (11:36) trailing by four, 13-9.
• Akron answered with an 8-0 run over a 4:28 span to regain the lead, 14-13, on a jumper from Castaneda at the 9:19 mark.
• Following a three point from Kent State after a video review, Freeman connected on a pair of free throws, while junior Michael Wynn (Albany, N.Y.) delivered a lay-up in the lane to give Akron a 18-16 edge at the third media timeout (7:30).
• With the game tied at 20, Clarke nailed a long triple from beyond the arc before Castaneda intercepted a pass at midcourt and drove to the hoop to give Akron a 25-20 edge at the 5:47 mark.
• Akron raced to a nine-point lead as a jumper from Castaneda culminated an 11-2 run over a 2:39 stretch to push the Zips' margin to 31-22.
• A three pointer from sophomore Greg Tribble (Cincinnati, Ohio) with 1:52 left in the half sent Akron into the intermission leading 34-25.
• After starting the contest 1-of-5 from the field, the Zips closed the half connecting on 11 of its final 15 shots in the stanza, to finish the half shooting 48 percent from the field, including going 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. Kent State capped the initial period scoreless over the final 3:41 and shooting 39.1 percent from the floor in the opening half.
• Ali led Akron's first-half offensive efforts with nine points, all on three pointers, while Castaneda and Freeman scored six points apiece.
• Kent State opened the second half on an 8-0 run to cut Akron's lead to 34-33, before Clarke and Castaneda hit back-to-back three pointer to push the Zips' advantage to 40-33 at the 15:26 mark.
• Following a basket by the Golden Flashes, Clarke added another triple before Freeman recorded a lay-up at the 12:51 mark to extend Akron's margin to 10, 45-35.
• After consecutive baskets for Kent State, Akron parlayed an 11-0 run over the next 3:14 to assume its lead to 17, 56-39, with 7:53 left in the game.
• The Zips stretched the advantage to as many as 20 points en route to securing the 75-55 victory.