Zips Win Defensive Battle, Castaneda Drops 32

Tuesday, January 24

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

14-6,6-1MAC

Miami

7-13,1-6MAC

Miami (OH)

Akron

January 24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio – In Mid-American Conference defensive battle, the Akron Zips traded shots with the visiting Miami RedHawks before emerging with a gritty 73-68 win on Tuesday at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The game was close throughout, with neither side leading by more than seven points at any juncture. The Zips took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by senior guard Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.), who hit another crucial deep shot moments later with his team leading by just two points.

Castaneda led all scorers with 32 points, topping 30 points for the fourth time this season. Junior forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) overcame foul trouble to post 13 points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Kobe Mitchell (Cadiz, Ohio) added nine for Akron.

It was Castaneda who delivered big play after big play to power the win, none bigger than his top-of-the-key three with 55.6 seconds remaining to give Akron (14-6, 6-1 MAC) a five-point lead (69-64).

Despite a slow start offensively, the Zips never let Miami build a significant lead, relying on the MAC's leading scoring defense to keep the contest close. The RedHawks (7-13, 1-6 MAC) managed just two made 3-pointers in 11 attempts in the first half and converted just 12-of-28 field goal attempts overall prior to intermission.

Akron took its first lead with 9:11 remaining before the half on a 3-pointer by Mitchell and built that edge to as many as six before heading to the locker room with a 36-33 lead punctuated by consecutive triples by Castaneda, including a buzzer-beating fallaway three from the top of the key as time expired.

It capped a 19-point half by Castaneda, who notched eight of those points from the foul line. The Zips also took care of the ball in the opening 20 minutes and committed just three first-half turnovers.

Senior guard Mekhi Lairy led Miami with 14 points and redshirt junior guard Morgan Safford added 13 in the loss.

Akron welcomes another MAC rival to The JAR for its next game, hosting the Ohio Bobcats at 2 p.m. on Jan. 28. The broadcast can be seen on ESPN+ or heard on 640 WHLO-AM.