by Our 2022 MAC Tournament Coverage is brought to you by “The David Palcisko “D-Money” Scholarship Fund “
The 5th seed Buffalo Bulls would score the first points of the contest against the 4th seed Akron Zips. The Zips would tie the ball game up early in the first half, the Bulls would regain their lead rather quickly due to free throws from Ronaldo Segu.
The Zips would continue to challenge the Bulls as we would see another lead change, Xavier Castaneda would hit a layup and get the foul in the process. No lead is safe here at the MAC tournament. We would see five lead changes in four minutes.
Threes from both teams would make the score 9-8 early in the first half as the Bulls barely lead the Zips. Both teams would struggle to get to the basket, we would see an offensive struggle on both sides early on.
Getting to the hoop was only doing so much for both squads as they still shot under 40 percent from the field. The score would continue to bounce back and forth as neither team can advance on their lead.
That was until Buffalo went on a run to get their largest lead so far of eight as they lead Akron 26-18 with just above five minutes left in the first half.
Castaneda would break the dry spell, he would lead his team in points, down by six they would depend on him to create chances for the team. That’s exactly what Castaneda would do, he would find an open Garvin Clarke at the three-point lead pulling withing three points of the Bulls.
Buffalo would not shy away; Maceo Jack would go up high for a dunk that would make the Buffalo fans jump up and scream loud. As the time would dwindle Castaneda would take a three from distance to tie the ball game up as the crowd would be in shock.
Castaneda would lead all scoring at the end of the first half with 15 points, shooting 5-11 from the field. 32-32 would be the score as we head into half.
As we head into the second half, Buffalo would start off hot increasing their lead by four. The Zips wouldn’t let the Bulls slip away, Ali Ali’s three would help regain the lead by one. This wouldn’t be the end of lead changes and ties.
The Zips would get red hot thanks to Ali, he would hit another three to increase the lead that he helped create. The score would sit at 43-37 with 16:28 left in the game.
The Bulls would try to close into the Akron lead, Ali would make that difficult for the Bulls as he would stay hot from deep scoring 17 points. The three-point shots would be contagious as Mikal Dawson would hit a three to extend the zips lead by eight.
The lead would go up to ten and stay there for the time as the Bulls would try and fight back with eight minutes left in the game. Jeenathan Williams would go one for one at the line making it a six-point ball game.
Buffalo would build on momentum and make a one score game as they where only down three points. Akron would hit two free throws right before Keishawn Brewton made a four-point play by hitting a three and getting fouled in the process he would hit the free throw making it a one-point game with five minutes left.
A layup from Akron would make it a three-point game, but not for long says Brewton; as he hit a three making the score dead even at 62 with just a few minutes left in the game.
Tra’von Fagan would build off his teammate’s momentum hitting a big time three to give Buffalo the lead over Akron. A big basket from Akron’s Enrique Freeman would make it a one-point game again. This was before Williams drove down the court after the basket, extending the lead back to three for the time.
Greg Tribble would go to the line and hit both free throws for the zips, the score would be 67-66 with a minute left. The Zips would fall back down to two but have no fear Enrique Freeman is here for the Zips as he ties the ballgame up at 68 with 38 seconds left.
On back-to-back games we have another thriller in the field house in the opening round of the MAC. Brewton would attempt a three, he would see the ball fall short and into the hands of Garvin Clarke for the Zips.
With 15 seconds left the Zips have the ball with a chance to move on to the semifinal round tomorrow night. Greg tribble would get fouled hitting his first free throw to take the lead, the second shot would fall in as well giving the Zips a two-point lead.
The Bulls would inbound the ball as Ronald Segu would throw up a prayer from deep as he would watch the ball bounce off the back of the rim with no time left in the game.
Jeenathan Williams would be the leader for the Buffalo Bulls with 17 points off 7-16 shooting with seven rebounds in the loss.
Ali Ali was the player to watch for the Akron Zips with 19 points going 7-15 from the field and a perfect 3-3 from three-point range. The 4th seed Akron Zips will face the 1st seed Toledo Rockets tomorrow in the semifinal game.
