In a thrilling matchup on Friday night, Isaiah Gray’s impressive performance, scoring 22 points, powered Akron to a 92-80 victory over Ohio.
Gray also contributed with five rebounds for the Zips, who improved their record to 12-5 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Amani Lyles had a standout game as well, finishing with 17 points on a remarkable shooting night, hitting 7 of 9 from the field and going 3 for 3 from the free-throw line. Lyles added six assists and three blocks to his tally. Additionally, Nate Johnson added 14 points, shooting 6 for 16, including two three-pointers.
On the other side, the Bobcats, now 10-7 overall and 4-1 in conference play, were led by Shereef Mitchell, who scored 27 points and logged two steals. AJ Brown also contributed with 15 points, while Aidan Hadaway added nine points along with seven rebounds. This loss ended Ohio’s impressive six-game winning streak.
Akron seized the lead early in the first half, around 17:27 in, and maintained it throughout the game. Gray’s 14 points in the first half were crucial, helping his team take a comfortable 44-29 lead into halftime. In the second half, Lyles led the way for Akron with 15 points, ensuring the team held onto their lead despite being outscored by Ohio by three points in that period.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play again on Tuesday. Akron will be traveling to face Buffalo, while Ohio will be challenging Eastern Michigan on the road.