The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Akron Captures Third Consecutive MAC Tournament Title with 79-76 Victory Past Toledo
March 14 | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A game-winning three pointer from redshirt senior Shammah Scott (Cleveland, Ohio) with 6.4 seconds left on the clock propelled the University of Akron men's basketball team to Mid-American Conference history with its third consecutive league tournament title on the strength of a come-from-behind 79-76 victory over Toledo on Saturday (March 14) at Rocket Arena.
Akron became the first team in league tournament history to capture back-to-back-to-back championships.
The triumph propelled the Zips to their eighth overall NCAA Tournament berth in program history and allowed Akron to record its 29th win of the season, most in program history.
Akron will hold an NCAA Tournament Selection Show Watch Party for its Tournament champion men's basketball team on Sunday (March 15) at James A. Rhodes Arena with doors opening at 5:00 PM and the show starting at 6 p.m. ET. Parking for the event is free in Lots 1, 2, 8 and 13.
Scott's three pointer concluded an 8-2 run over the final 3:10 of regulation to allow the Zips to overcome its largest deficit of the season en route to victory. Akron previously trailed Western Michigan by 11 in a 104-89 triumph on Jan. 17 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior Tavari Johnson (La Grange, Ill.) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after posting a 15-point and five-assist performance. Senior Amani Lyles (Columbus, Ohio) garnered All-Tournament accolades turning a 15-point and career-best 16-rebound effort, while Scott was named to the All-Tournament squad scoring 12 points on the night.
Senior Bowen Hardman (Cincinnati, Ohio) rounded out Akron's double-digit scoring performance netting 12 points, all on three pointers.
The Zips concluded the evening shooting nearly 47 percent (.465) from the field and outrebounded the Rockets, 37-32, including 14-6 on the offensive glass.
The opening stanza was highlighted by a series of runs for both squads with Toledo closing the half on a 5-0 surge to lead 42-30.
Akron was led by nine first-half points from Hardman. Akron shot just 34.3 percent in the first half, including going 6-for-24 (.250) from beyond in the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
The Rockets jumped out to a 17-8 advantage in the contest at the 14:07 mark sparked by a 7-0 run that stretched a 10-8 margin.
Harman made his first two baskets, both three pointers, while the rest of the Zips shot 1-for-8 as Toledo assumed the early edge before a Scott triple at 13:52 mark ended the run.
The Rockets added another 5-0 run to stretch the margin to 27-15 with 9:45 left in the half. The Zips answered with an 8-0 rally of their own capped by triple from Hardman at 7:44 mark to move to within seven, 27-23.
In the second half, Akron moved to within one, 52-51, when sophomore Sharron Young (Morgantown, W.Va.) made a layup at the 12:23 mark as part of a 19-2 run over a nearly six-minute span (5:51) for the Zips.
Scott jumper at 11:49 mark gave Akron its first lead of the game, 53-52, followed by a triple from redshirt freshman Eric Mahaffey (Cincinnati, Ohio) at 11:15 to extend the margin to 57-52.
Toledo used 5-0 run to regain 60-59 lead at 8:53 mark as part of 8-0 overall run before a Lyles layup with 7:45 left in the game tied the game at 63.
A steal by Young and layup by Mahaffey at 6:20 gave Akron a 4-0 to square game at 67
A Mahaffey layup with 3:25 left tied the contest at 71 before Hardman drained a 3 at 2:56 tied at 74.
Akron again tied it at 76 on a Johnson up and under with 1:13 left in the game.
