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Zips Lose To UMASS, End Long Season
By Jason Roberts | March 22, 2008
Amherst, MASS – The Akron Zips long season came to an end today in Amherst, Massachusetts as they lost to UMASS 68-63 in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Zips seemed to struggle in the beginning. Akron was slow to adjust to the UMASS height in the paint and their tough 3-point shooting from the perimeter. The Zips were sloppy with turnovers and inaccurate with their outside shooting, but they still managed to battle back to within 3 points at the half.
It was a different game in the second half as Dambrot made adjustments in the locker room. About five minutes into the half, Akron took the lead for the first time since they were up 2-1. Then Jeremiah Wood turned on the afterburners. Wood was hitting shots from inside the key to outside the 3-point arc. With just over eleven minutes to go, Akron found themselves up by 9 points. UMASS seemed to fall victim to the same shooting bug that infected Akron a few times this season, especially against rival Kent State.
With six minutes to go, the shooting and turnover bug began to infect Akron. It seemed that neither team could get anything to fall. With 4:22 to go in the game, UMASS battled back to within 3 points. A turnover by Cedrick Middleton allowed UMASS to cut the lead to 1 and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
UMASS continued to press and play the tough defense that had them leading in much of the first half. Consequently, the Zips continued to make poor passing choices leading to turnovers.
With 3:14, UMASS took the lead at the free throw line 61-60. On the next trip down, Nick Dials was double-teamed and lost the ball, in the skirmish for the ball, Chris Lowe was tripped by Dials and Akron was charged with a controversial intentional foul giving UMASS two free throws and the possession.
Brett McKnight hit a 3-pointer with 2:10 to go to bring the Zips to within 2 points. After a stop at the UMASS end, Akron again turned over the ball and proceeded to call a timeout with 1:30 to go down 65-63.
With 54.7 to go in the game, Akron brought the ball into the forecourt. Brett McKnight missed a 3-point shot and UMASS called a timeout with 24.3 to and 23 on the shot clock. Akron, down by two, needed to foul to stop the clock. UMASS’s Gary Forbes was fouled and missed the first of two shots. Akron, down by three with 17.6 left, Akron inbounded the ball which eventually led to an unnecessary 3-point miss by Jeremiah Wood which sealed their fate. In the last half of the game, Akron was out shot 25-7.
The loss ends the Zips season, already the longest in school history with 35 games. Akron finished 24-11.
For Akron, Jeremiah Wood again led the team in scoring with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Cedrick Middleton had 14 points, while Nate Linhart and Nick Dials had 6 and 3 points respectively. Off the bench, Brett McKnight had 11 points while his brother Chris had 6 points.
Akron shot 43% from the field, 76% from the free-throw line and 41% from 3-point range.
Today was the last game for seniors Nick Dials, Jeremiah Wood and Nick Goddard (did not play).
Topics: Men's Basketball | 1 Comment »
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
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