by Akron, OH; The Akron Zips returned home to host the Toledo Rockets after back-to-back wins on the road over Buffalo and Ohio. With a six-game winning streak riding into this one, you can make it seven straight overall thanks to a narrow 91-81 win. “Give Toledo a lot of credit as they were clearly the better team in the first half.” Head coach John Groce said following the victory.
Tavari Johnson led the way with 25 points, seven assists, and two steals. Amani Lyles followed up with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists. While Eric Mahaffey followed up with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, including shooting 3-for-4 from 3PT range. “I would say Zips nation. The fans that come to the game and the energy they bring. The way they care about Akron basketball,” Johnson said postgame on what has fueled the nation’s second longest home winning streak at 27 games.
It was a very tight back and forth game to start. The opening minutes were very exciting to watch which featured eight lead changes, three ties, and neither team leading by more than three. But at the under-12 media timeout of the first half, Akron held a 21-19 lead.
You have to give credit to Toledo who came out red hot as they were still shooting at a 71% clip, including 70% from long range. With 6:19 left to go until the half, it was a narrow one point Zips lead at 34-33.
Leave it up to the Rockets though as they ended up opening a lead up to as big as 49-41 walking into halftime thanks to a big 15-5 run. It was quite the effort and performance being put on from Sony Wilson and Leroy Blyden Jr. who combined for 28 of their first 49 points. You would have to think Groce would put a big emphasis on the perimeter defense for Akron as they were allowing Toledo to shoot 75% from deep in the first half.
The Zips came out of halftime roaring on a 12-2 run to take a commanding 53-51 lead with over 14 minutes left to play. You knew the defense would be well talked about at the break, and they flipped the switch with their gameplan as they held the Rockets to 1-for-5 from the field to start the second half. “When you look at both ends both offensively and defensively, I thought the second half was one of our best halves of the season.” Groce said postgame about the tale of two halves.
But it became a tight, back and forth game again as Akron led just 71-67 with 7:41 left in the second half. Both of the Mahaffey brothers were arguably the difference maker tonight as they combined for 24 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists, which included 14 points in the second half alone. In fact, the biggest shot of the night came with 3:05 to go as Eric knocked down a big three to give the Zips an 80-75 lead.
Despite still keeping it close, it was just too much for Toledo to come back from as they found themselves losing by double digits in the end. With the 91-81 win, Akron improves to 17-4 on the season as they now look ahead to a huge game against cross-town rival Kent State on Friday night.
