AKRON, Ohio — In an exhilarating matchup, the Akron Zips secured the Mid-American Conference regular season title after edging past Kent State with a 77-72 victory on Friday. This significant win came with two games still left to play in the season. Tavari Johnson was a standout performer for Akron, racking up 16 points while hitting 7 out of 13 shots from the field, including two successful three-pointers out of five attempts.
Alongside him, Nate Johnson contributed significantly to the team’s success with 14 points and a dominative presence on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds. Shammah Scott added nine points to the scoreline, shooting 3 for 8 with all three free-throw attempts converted. Although his shots from beyond the arc didn’t find the mark, his efforts were crucial.
On the other side of the court, Jalen Sullinger led Kent State’s charge by scoring 19 points, showing an impressive performance. Marquis Barnett also made notable contributions with 14 points and seven rebounds, offering considerable support to his team. Delrecco Gillespie rounded out the key performances for Kent State, adding 10 points while pulling down eight rebounds.
In the first half of the game, Akron found themselves trailing 39-32 despite Bowen Hardman’s six points. However, the tide changed in the second half, with Tavari Johnson spearheading Akron’s comeback by scoring 10 points as his team outscored Kent State by 12 points in the final period.
Both teams will hit the court again on Tuesday, as Akron travels to take on Toledo, and Kent State heads to Western Michigan for their respective next games.
