Kent State University
15-16 (9-9MAC)
University of Akron
13-17 (6-12MAC)
Akron Wins Late Free Throw Struggle
3/2/2018 11:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Akron's Eric Parrish made a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to give the Zips a 67-65 victory over Kent State Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena. The regular season finale became a free throw shooting contest down the final stretch as neither team made a field goal in the last six minutes.
The Golden Flashes led by four points (60-56) with 6:02 remaining, but ended the contest on a 3:38 scoreless drought. Danny Pippen, Adonis De La Rosa and Kevin Zabo all fouled out by the 1:43 mark.
"Tough loss…Akron was really physical, played hard and competed," Head coach Rob Senderoff said. "We didn't have a great start to the game and thought we gave ourselves a chance in the second half. We didn't close it out, but give them credit…now we move on to the postseason."
The Flashes also had a field goal drought in the first four minutes of the game as Akron jumped out to 10-2 lead. Kent State found a groove later in the half as Pippen, Zabo, BJ Duling and Jaylin Walker all made three-pointers and went back to the locker room tied 31-31.
The lead changed hands 10 times in the second half as Akron outscored Kent State 17-12 from the line in the final 20 minutes.
Zabo led Kent State with 16 points, a career-high eight rebounds and four assists. Walker finished with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Finishing 9-9 in conference play, Kent State will host a MAC tournament opening round game Monday night at the M.A.C. Center. The Flashes will not know its opponent until the conclusion of the Central Michigan-Western Michigan game on Saturday.
