The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
7-4
Tennessee State
3-7
Akron Snaps Skid Against TSU, 82-60, Ivey Reaches 1,000 points
December 18 | Men's Basketball
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Akron, Ohio – The Akron Zips shot lights-out from long range to an 82-60 non-conference win over visiting Tennessee State Tuesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) became the 44th member of the school's 1,000-point club, reaching the milestone on an old-fashioned three-point play with just under nine minutes left in the first half. Ivey finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Redshirt sophomore guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) led a trio of Zips in double figures with a game-high 23 points, while and junior forward Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) added 18 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting. Jackson also snared a team-best seven rebounds with six assists in an all-around effort.
It was a physical, uneven game at times, but once Akron built a double-digit lead, it never allowed the Tigers closer than 12 points and pulled away late to snap a two-game losing streak. They limited Tennessee State to 36.5 percent (19-of-52) shooting and forced 19 turnovers, which the Zips converted into 24 points.
Playing their penultimate home game of the calendar year, the Zips (7-4) rode the hot shooting of Jackson and Utomi early on, including a pair of 3-pointers midway through the first half from Jackson, who helped created separation and turn a two-point game into a 17-9 contest in favor of the hosts.
Utomi followed with a triple of his own to give Akron three straight makes from beyond the arc and moments later, Ivey added his first triple of the game to help the Zips to a 6-of-9 start on threes and a 23-12 edge. On Akron's next possession, the senior guard added an old-fashioned three-point play with a fadeaway in the lane and free throw after he was fouled, adding to an 18-3 run that placed the Zips firmly in control of the contest.
By the time the run ended, the Tigers went 4:01 between made baskets. It allowed the Zips to take a 42-28 lead into the halftime locker room as they sank 7-of-14 triples in the frame - and 13-of-29 for the game - and held Tennessee State to 13-of-26 shooting (50.0 percent) and forced the Tigers (3-7) into 12 first-half turnovers.
Redshirt junior guard Donte Fitzpatrick-Dorsey led Tennessee State with 11 points and snared a game-high eight rebounds in defeat. Senior guard Armani Chaney added eight points for the Tigers.
The Zips take to the road for their next contest, battling sixth-ranked Nevada in Reno Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN3.
