Castaneda, Freeman Power Zips Past Bulls for Season Sweep

Saturday, February 18

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

19-8,11-3MAC

Buffalo

12-15,6-8MAC

Buffalo

Akron

Castaneda, Freeman Power Zips Past Bulls for Season Sweep

February 18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

AKRON, Ohio – Senior Xavier Castaneda and junior Enrique Freeman combined for 51 points to power Akron to an 86-66 win over Buffalo to complete a season sweep on Saturday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Castaneda poured in a game-high 30 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, including a 5-of-9 performance from deep and a 11-of-12 effort from the charity stripe. He added a second-best six rebounds to go along with three assists and a steal. In addition, Castaneda became the 48^th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau in a blue and gold uniform. He finished the game with 1,007 points at Akron and 1,500 career points overall.

Freeman collected his 15^th double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 boards as Akron out rebounded the Bulls 37-29. Freeman also issued a game-high two blocked shots with four assists and a steal. He shot 7-of-14 from the floor as Akron finished the game shooting 47.5 percent from the field (29-of-61) with eight trifectas.

Freshman Nate Johnson followed a career-high 13-point performance earlier in the week at Eastern Michigan with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a perfect 1-of-1 showing from downtown.

An explosive first half set the Zips (19-8, 11-3 MAC) on a winning course as they posted 46 points in the frame. Behind Freeman's dominance on the glass, they outrebounded Buffalo 37-29, including 11 offensive rebounds to secure second-chance scoring looks.

The Akron defense also harassed the Bulls (12-16, 6-8 MAC) all night long, forcing 13 turnovers and limiting the visitors to 46.4-percent shooting.

With the game in control, Akron never allowed Buffalo to mount a serious rally in the second half, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout and pushing the margin to as many as 26 late in the game.

Graduate student guard Armoni Foster led Buffalo with 12 points and junior forward Isaiah Adams added 11 in defeat.

With the win, the Zips remain in position for a top-four seed in the upcoming MAC tournament and they also sweep the season series with the Bulls. The victory also puts Akron on the precipice of another 20-win season.

Up next for Akron is a road tilt against Toledo on Feb. 21, with action from Savage Hall set to tip off at 7 p.m. Listen to the broadcast on WHLO 640-AM.