The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
North Dakota State
Men's Basketball Drops 55-46 Road Decision at North Dakota State
December 16 | Men's Basketball
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FARGO, N.D. – Akron could not overcome a 10-point second-half deficit as the Zips would drop a 55-46 road decision to North Dakota State on Tuesday night at Scheels Arena.
It was a tough night shooting for both teams as Akron (6-4) shot 29.8 percent from the floor (17-of-57) and 26.3 percent from long range (5-of-19).
North Dakota State (6-4) shot 33.3 percent from the floor (17-of-51) and 28.6 percent from long range (4-of-14).
Deji Ibitayo led the Zips with 10 points while Noah Robotham chipped in with eight points. Kwan Cheatham, Jr., tied his career high with 11 rebounds (six offensive).
NDSU's Lawrence Alexander led all players with 22 points.
NDSU opened an early 10-4 lead thanks to a 10-2 run after Akron scored the first points of the game. Antino Jackson ended the run with a jumper to cut the lead to 10-6 heading into the under-12 media timeout (11:00).
By the under-8 media timeout, the Bison lead would stand at 12-7 as both teams combined to shoot 7-of-32 from the field over the first 12:26 of the game.
The NDSU lead would hit 18-11 before Jake Kretzer and Robotham hit back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the lead to one (18-17) with 3:19 remaining in the half. The Bison would score four of the next six points to take a 22-19 lead into the locker room.
The Bison's lead would grow to as many as seven points to open the second half, but the Zips would answer each time. However, NDSU would push its advantage to 10 (37-27) coming out of the under-12 media timeout (11:02).
Robotham would start an 8-2 run with a 3-pointer with 6:54 to go. Nyles Evans followed with a 3-pointer of his own two possessions later while Ibitayo hit two freebies to cut the deficit to 42-38 with 5:42 on the clock.
Ibitayo extended the run to 10-2 with a floater and the Zips would trail by just two (42-40) with just under five minutes remaining. Evans made it a one-point game on the Zips' next possession (43-42) with 3:26 to go in the game.
After both teams traded points on the following two possessions, the Zips would not be able to complete the comeback as NDSU would score the next eight points. Akron would drop its' second-straight game, falling 55-46.
The Zips return to Akron to open a four-game home stand when they play host to Bluffton on Saturday, Dec. 20. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Zips Notebook: Tonight's game between the Bison and Zips was the return trip for Akron from the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters game ... Akron won that game, 68-53, on Feb. 22, 2013 ... tonight's game was just the second time this season that the Zips committed more turnovers than their opponent (11-8).
