Akron Dominates Eastern Michigan, Six Zips Score Double Figures

Friday, January 13

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

11-6,3-1MAC

104

Eastern Michigan

4-13,1-3MAC

Eastern Mich.

Akron

104

Akron Dominates Eastern Michigan, Six Zips Score Double Figures

January 13 | Men's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio – The home court dominance continued Friday night for the Akron Zips as they soared past the visiting Eastern Michigan Eagles 104-67 on ESPNU for their ninth home win in as many tries this season.

It was a game Akron led from wire to wire, combining solid outside shooting with its trademark defensive aggression to win its third Mid-American Conference game in four outings. Six players scored in double figures as all five starters stuffed the stat sheet.

Senior guard Xaxier Castaneda paced the Zips with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, with junior forward Enrique Freeman (20 points, nine rebounds), graduate transfer guard Trendon Hankerson (14 points, four rebounds), junior forward Sammy Hunter (13 points, four rebounds) and Junior guard Greg Tribble (10 points, 5 rebounds) also turning in strong outings. In addition freshman A forward Amani Lyles registered a career-high 10 points.

Already leading by 20 coming out of intermission, the Zips (11-6, 3-1 MAC) iced the game with a 19-2 burst in the first 3:42 of the second half. Their lead swelled to as many as 44 as the half wore on, with the Eagles never mustering any sort of rally.

It was the largest margin of victory for Akron in a MAC game since a 78-41 win over Eastern Michigan on Feb. 3, 2009, and the first time the Zips scored 100 in a MAC game since a 111-106 double-overtime setback at Ball State on Jan, 27, 2018.

The game featured dominance on all fronts as Akron outrebounded the Eagles 34-22, held a 17-2 edge in fast break points and also posted 44 points in the paint to Eastern Michigan's 22.

The Zips set the tone for the win as they shot a scorching 59.3 percent from the field in the opening half while hassling Eastern Michigan (4-13, 1-3 MAC) into 9-of-29 marksmanship en route to a 46-26 halftime lead. That hot shooting was central to a 14-4 run midway through the opening frame as the blue and gold pushed their lead to double figures while taking Eastern Michigan leading scorer Emoni Bates out of the game with their defense. Junior guard Greg Tribble was the Zips primary defender on Bates, as Tribble made it tough on him all night. Bates missed all five of his shots and scored just one point in the half, finishing the game with just three points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field and 0-of-5 from deep.

Sophomore guard Noah Farrakhan was the top scorer for the Eagles with 18 points and sophomore guard Tyson Acuff added 11 in the loss.

Akron begins a two-game Michigan road swing with a 7 p.m. showdown with Central Michigan on Jan. 17. Action from Mt. Pleasant can be seen on ESPN+.