The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
5-1,0-0MAC
Evansville
3-4,0-0MVC
Akron Advances to Paradise Jam Championship Game with 97-59 Victory over Evansville
November 23 | Men's Basketball
ST.THOMAS, USVIÂ -Â The Akron men's basketball team scored 30 points off of turnovers on the way to a 97-59 victory against the Evansville Purple Aces at Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center Sunday.
The Zips (5-1) had four players score in double figures, led by Bowen Hardman, who had 19 points. Tavari Johnson added 19 points and four assists and Amani Lyles helped out with 17 points and five assists while Evan Mahaffey tossed in 11 points while supplying seven assists.
Akron out-rebounded Evansville 29-22 in Sunday's game, paced by five boards from Marvin Musiime-Kamali. The Zips also collected 10 offensive rebounds and scored 21 second chance points.
Akron forced 18 Evansville turnovers while committing 12 themselves in Sunday's game. The Zips turned those takeaways into 30 points on the offensive end of the floor. Musiime-Kamali led the way individually with three steals.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 23-20 advantage, Akron went on an 8-0 run with 8:32 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Johnson, to increase its lead to 31-20. The Zips then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 44-36 advantage. Akron relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 44 points.
Following intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 52-43 before going on a 10-0 run to grow the lead to 62-43 with 13:29 to go in the contest. The Zips kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 97-59 win. Akron capitalized on 11 Evansville turnovers in the period, collecting 20 points off those turnovers.
Game Notes
» The Zips shot well from three point range, knocking down 13 of 30 long range attempts.» Akron never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Akron recorded 19 total assists in the game.
» The Akron bench came alive by adding 36 points to its scoring output.
» The Zips turned 18 turnovers into 30 points on the offensive end.
» Akron had a 29-22 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Akron defense forced 18 turnovers.
» Akron cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Bowen Hardman and Tavari Johnson led the Zips with a game-high 19 points each.
» Akron got five rebounds from both Marvin Musiime-Kamali and Evan Mahaffey.
What's Next?
Akron will battle Yale for the Paradise Jam title on Monday, November 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
