Freeman Records Double-Double, Zips Could Not Overcome Late Surge by Ball State

Friday, January 6

Muncie, IN

8:30 PM

University of Akron

9-6,1-1MAC

Ball State

11-4,2-0MAC

Akron

Ball St.

Freeman Records Double-Double, Zips Could Not Overcome Late Surge by Ball State

January 07 | Men's Basketball

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MUNCIE, Ind. – Junior forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) recorded his eighth double-double of the season, but Akron could not overcome a late 10-0 surge by Ball State on Friday as the Cardinals posted a 70-63 win on CBS Sports Network at Worthen Arena.

Freeman scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed a game-best 14 rebounds to lead the Zips (9-6, 1-1), while junior Greg Tribble (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched 14 points on an 8-of-10 showing from the free throw line.

For a second-straight game, Akron played without the Mid-American Conference second leading scorer, senior Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill), as the Zips intense physical defensive play gave the Cardinals (11-4, 2-0) trouble throughout the game. The showdown featured16 lead changes and eight tied scores to go along with 45 fouls and five technical fouls.

Akron caused nine first-half turnovers, and a result, the Zips recorded five steals in the opening frame. The Cardinals jumped out to a 7-0 start, but Tribble scored five straight points, including a pair of floaters in the paint to narrow the initial advantage. Akron captured its first lead of the game at the 13:22 mark (9-8) on a pair of free throws by freshman Amani Lyles (Columbus, Ohio). The Zips held the Cardinals without a field goal for nearly seven minutes and only relinquished a couple free throws after 4:22 scoreless minutes. The Zips carried a 31-30 advantage into the break as Ball State nailed a jumper as the buzzer sounded.

After the break a back-and-forth battled ensued as the two teams traded points and the lead five times in the second half by the 15:44 mark. The Zips used an 8-0 run to take a 54-47 lead with 10:41 showing on the clock and controlled the scoreboard until 4:07 when the Cardinals took the final lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Jaylin Sellers (13 points). Akron led 61-56 with 6:59 remaining in the game, but Ball State scored 10 straight points to take a 66-61 advantage with 2:19 left to play. The Cardinals scored four of the final six points as Payton Sparks and Jarron Coleman finished with 15 points each to lead Ball State.

The Zips limited the home team to shooting just 23-of-58 (.397) from the field and 3-of-14 (.214) from deep, but the Cardinals cashed-in on 21-of-28 (.750) from the free throw line. The Zips shot 19-of-49 (.388) from the floor and 3-of-12 (.250) from long distance, while completing 22-of-26 (.846) from the charity stripe.

Akron will be back on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 10, traveling to Bowling Green for the third league game. Tipoff at the Stroh Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.