Zips Extend Win Streak to 13 with Close Victory Over Central Michigan

AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Zips extended their winning streak to 13 games with an 85-82 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday night. The Zips, now 20-5 overall and a perfect 12-0 in the Mid-American Conference, will host Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. Tuesday, marking Enrique Freeman Night, where Freeman’s No. 25 jersey will be honored.

Despite trailing at halftime 36-33, the Zips managed to rally and secure the win. Nate Johnson led the team with 18 points, accompanied by seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Amani Lyles also made a significant contribution with 14 points and two blocks.

Akron head coach John Groce reflected on the game’s challenges, noting, “I told them after the game that it was great for our team growth to be in a close game like that and to have to play situations late that we work on in practice.” He acknowledged the effort put forth by Central Michigan, stating that they “decided to sell out and take away the three,” which required adjustments from his team.

The Zips capitalized on their interior game, scoring 48 points in the paint by relying on cuts and aggressive driving. Groce emphasized the importance of speed in the second half, stating, “We really challenged them at halftime, like, ‘Guys, we gotta play Akron basketball here. All gas, no breaks. Let’s run.’”

Akron’s Shammah Scott added 13 points to the tally, while Isaiah Gray contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

On the other side, Central Michigan’s Ugnius Jarusevicius matched his career-high with 32 points and collected 10 rebounds. This was the second consecutive game in which he scored 32 points, having done so previously against Kent State. Jarusevicius proved to be a formidable opponent, especially in the first half.

“He is a load,” Groce said. “He had made four 3s all year in MAC play out of 30 attempts. He goes 3 for 3 in the first half, so it made us change our coverage, which made him a little more challenging to guard.”

In women’s sports, the Akron Zips golf team started its spring schedule with a 3-3 tie in match play against Murray State and a 6-0 victory over Western Illinois during the Rust Buster Match Play event in Orlando, Florida. Juniors Hridhika Vora and Emily Liptak, along with freshman Sohniya Chandra Mohan, emerged victorious in their opening match.

The women’s lacrosse team experienced a successful home stand, defeating Saint Francis 11-4 and Xavier 15-6. Junior Kellen Fletcher and sophomore Sienna Hinchcliffe were standout players, each scoring three goals against Saint Francis.

Akron’s baseball team (2-1) had a doubleheader against Radford, winning the first game 12-11 in 10 innings but losing the second game 10-9 in 11 innings. Senior Jack Poist shone with a grand slam in the opener as senior Andrew Horvath and redshirt freshman Blake Bowen also contributed significantly.

Meanwhile, the women’s softball team (7-3) had mixed results at the Whataburger Invitational, managing to secure some wins against formidable opponents. Freshman Maddelynn Lee and sophomore Macy Walters showcased their skills, contributing to the team’s overall performance.

In track and field, athletes from Akron participated in multiple events over the weekend, showcasing their talents alongside competitors from various universities.

Akron’s women’s basketball team (9-16, 3-9) faced a tough opponent in Toledo, losing 75-54 after a tie at halftime. Freshman Ni’Rah Clark led the scoring for the Zips with a career-high 16 points.

For more updates, Michael Beaven can be reached at [email protected].