EMU Withstands Late Akron Run and Defeat the Zips, 78-75

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Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- For the first time since the 2010-11 season, Eastern Michigan University's men's basketball team handed a loss to Mid-American Conference foe the University of Akron following a 78-75 decision, Feb. 14. With the win, the Eagles improve to 16-9 (5-7 MAC), while the Zips fall to 17-8 (8-4 MAC).

Raven Lee (Detroit, Mich.-Romulus) had a tremendous performance for the Green and White, posting just one point off his season high with 32 and hitting a career-high 13 free throws on 15 attempts, which was as many free throws made as the entire Akron lineup combined. Lee went 8-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, while Karrington Ward (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Twp. (Moraine Valley)) had his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Tim Bond (Baltimore, Md.-City College) chipped in 12 points, and Mike Talley (Detroit, Mich.-Melvindale ABT (Duquesne)) added eight and a game-best six assists and four steals. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles had eight blocks, four from Ward alone, and 14 steals.

As a team, the Eagles shot at a 53.1 percent clip on 26-of-49 shooting, which is the second-best of the season and the highest against an NCAA Division I opponent this year. The only other game this year where the Eagles had a higher success rate was in a 100-42 win over Concordia, Dec. 28, hitting 55 percent of their shots. The Zips were held to 25-of-78 from the field for 32.1 percent, and the Green and White held the advantage on fastbreak points, 24-8.

The Zips had the edge in rebounding and second chance points, pulling down 47 boards compared to EMU's 39, which helped Akron win the second chance point battle, 26-4. Akron was led by Pat Forsythe with 17 points and eight rebounds, while the trio of Jake Kretzer, Reggie McAdams, and Noah Robotham combined for 10 of the Zips' 12 three-pointers.

Akron got out to an early, albeit slight, lead over the Green and White, courtesy of four points from Forsythe to go up 4-1 in the opening two minutes. Eastern' s offense was sparked with a Talley drive straight down the lane for an easy bucket, followed by a triple from the top of the arc to knot the score at six apiece, and a trey by Ward gave the Eagles their first lead of the night, 9-11, with 16:07 to play.

From there, the Green and White went on an offensive burst as Talley and Lee both bounded down court for fastbreak layups, forcing Akron Head Coach Keith Dambrot to call a timeout. Akron answered with five-straight points, coming within two points of the Eagles before Ward nudged a tip in to get the game back on track.

The teams traded baskets for the next few points, but a steal by Bond allowed the true freshman to rise up and slam down a rousing dunk, followed up by a smooth triple to bolster the intensity of the game and give the Eagles a 23-15 advantage with 9:41 to play.

As has been the trend lately, the Eagles continued to pour in triples as Lee drained a three-pointer and followed it up with a mid-range jumper. Mike Samuels (Bushkill, Pa.-East Stroudburg North (Indiana State)) added to the scoring effort with a bunny in the paint before Akron would turn to Jake Kretzer for a sideline three-pointer. Lee got fouled on the next possession taking a three-point attempt, and converted all three of his free throws to put the Green and White up 33-21 with 6:31 left in the half.

Forsythe made his presence known in the paint, scoring back-to-back points, but Eastern consistently drained basket after basket with a layup by Ward, a hook shot off the glass by Anali Okoloji (Brooklyn, N.Y.-Impact Academy (George Mason)) and a two-handed fastbreak throwdown by Lee.

The half closed out with Akron finding Kretzer open for his third triple of the afternoon, but the Eagles still retained a stable 43-35 lead heading into the locker room. Lee led all players in the first half with 15 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. The Green and White spread the wealth on offense, with Ward posting nine points, Talley chipping in eight points, and Bond adding seven points to the count. As a team, the Eagles shot 61.5 percent from the field, hitting 16-of-26 shots, and sank 4-of-6 three-pointers. The Zips were held to 12-of-35 shooting for a 34.3 percent clip, and the Eagles held a fierce advantage in speed, scoring 18 points off of fastbreak.

Lee added to his tally with the first points of the second half, hitting a jumper from the elbow for an easy two points. After a layup by Bond and another three from Lee, Eastern's scoring was stifled for the next three minutes, but the Zips were also kept to a low ouput with just five points in the first seven minutes of the half.

Eastern was able to keep the Zips at a nine-point distance, and extended the lead even further after Ward grabbed a steal out of mid-air and allowed Talley to find a soaring Brandon Nazione (Howell, Mich.-Howell (Des Moines CC)) for a layup and-one. Nazione later found Bond following a scramble under the rim for another easy basket, and continued to fill up his stat sheet with a fastbreak layup to put the Green and White up 59-45 with 10:05 remaining.

Robotham drilled two three-pointers to help Akron come within seven points of the Eagles, 66-59 with 5:48 to play, after which the teams traded points until Lee threw up an alley oop for Ward to give the Green and White a 71-61 edge with 1:20 in the contest.

Akron strung together four points, but started to foul as the time on the clock dwindled. The Zips then came away with two steals in a row that were dished out to Kretzer for a three and Aaron Jackson for a paint jumper to come within three points of the Eagles, still trailing 73-70 with 25 seconds remaining.

A last ditch effort from Antonio Jackson beyond the arc fell short and into the hands of Ward, who was subsequently fouled and sank two free throws to seal the victory. Robotham connected on another triple with one second to spare, but his shot was for naught as the Eagles ran away with the 78-75 victory.

Eastern will remain home for its next contest, taking on the University at Buffalo in another cross-divisional matchup. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center Wednesday, Feb. 18.

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Team Stats

Ray Lee

Karrington Ward

Tim Bond

Mike Talley

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Brandon Nazione

Anali Okoloji

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Players Mentioned

Tim Bond

Ray Lee

Brandon Nazione

Anali Okoloji

Mike Samuels

Mike Talley

Karrington Ward

Eastern Michigan Athletics