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The defending MAC tournament champions, Akron Zips (3) came into the final game of quarter finals looking to beat the Buffalo Bulls (6) to face off against Kent State in the Semi-finals.
Akron took this game home in a 101-77 route of the Buffalo Bulls. The Akron Zips took off to a fast start as the Bulls tried playing catchup the entire game. Akron will be staying at least one more night in Cleveland as they take on heated rival Kent State in the battle for the Wagon Wheel for the third time this year.
Akron got off to a fast start leading Buffalo 13 to four early in the first half, The duo of Xavier Castaneda and Enrique Freeman were too much for the Bulls.
The Bulls tried to pull together offense using one on one matchups to increase their chances at getting to the room. LaQuil Hardnett and Armoni Foster tried isolated the Zips defenders but could not do it effectively enough to stay within 10 points.
The Zips sliced and diced past Bulls defenders in the first half, by driving into the paint and passing the ball out as the defense collapses on them. A 36% three-point shot was the main focal point for the Zips. Buffalo could not keep up or defend the three ball by Akron.
Castaneda, once again became the leader for the Zips offense pushing them up and over the Bulls in the first half of play. With stifling defense, quick first move, and deadly three point shot Castaneda could not be slowed down. He finished the first half with 14 points as his team had a 45 to 31 lead against the Buffalo Bulls.
The second half was more of the same for both teams as the Zips continued to put pressure on even after the Bulls started a full court press. This pressure from the Bulls was not enough to hold the Zips back from jumping to a 30 point lead early into the second half. This lead didn’t just remain but was extended as the Castaneda exploded on the stat sheet. Yazid Powell and Hardnett led the Buffalo bills with 24 and 18 points respectively.
Xavier Castaneda was the man of the hour thanks to a 31-point performance, the best performance we’ve seen thus far in the MAC tournament.
Tomorrow’s semifinal game between Akron and Kent State start at 5:00 eastern time as Ohio and Toledo will start after.
