AKRON, OHIO – A jam packed crowd of just under 4,200 packed James A. Rhodes Arena to see the Akron Zips take care of Mid-American Conference rival Ohio University 91-76 on Tuesday night. The crowd was also there to get one of 750 LeBron James Akron Zips bobblehead dolls that were given away before tip-off.
While 750 lucky fans took home the James bobblehead, the entire crowd went home witnesses to a school record. The weather outside of the J.A.R. was rain turning to a snow mix, inside Rhodes Arena, the Zips were raining three point shots.
Keith Dambrot’s Zips are one the top three point teams in all of division one college basketball, and proved it on Tuesday night. Akron connected on 20 made three pointers and used the shooting display to claim the regular season Mid-American Conference championship and the number one seed at next week’s Mid-American Conference tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Reggie McAdams and Kwan Cheatham Jr. combined for 12 of Akron’s 20 three point makes. McAdams went seven of 14 and Cheatham Jr. went five of 12 from behind the arc. McAdams and Cheatham Jr. finished tied for the team lead in scoring with 21 points. Cheatham was also a force on the glass by pulling down a game high 12 rebounds.
Jake Kretzer went three of six from three point territory for eleven points.
Akron attempted 43 three point shots for the game and finished at 46.5% shooting from downtown. The Zips only made 12 two point field goals for the game and went seven of eleven from the free throw line.
Despite the hot shooting from three point country, the Bobcats remained in the ballgame until the final moments. Akron only lead Ohio University by five points at halftime, 42-37.
The Bobcats won the battle in the paint by outscoring Akron 36-22. Jaaron Simmons lead the Bobcats with a game high 25 points. Three other Bobcat starters each scored 13 points on the night.
Another key to the Zips win was the play of the bench. Akron outscored Ohio University 27-3 off the bench. The Bobcats three bench players who saw action on Tuesday night combined to play just 22 minutes and only took one shot, a three point make by Gavin Block.
Akron never trailed on Tuesday night. The Zips held the lead for 37:30 of game action, the game was tied for the remaining 2:30 of action.
Akron improves to 23-7 overall and 12-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips conclude the regular season by hosting neighborhood rival Kent State on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Arena.
The Zips will look for revenge from the first meeting when the Golden Flashes won at the M.A.C. Center 85-76 on February 19. The neighborhood rival will be broadcast on ESPN-2.
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