Akron Stuns Kent State, Returns to NCAA Tournament
#6 Akron 66, #1 Kent State 65 (OT)
MAC Men's Championship Game
CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the end, it was only fitting that one of the MAC's biggest rivalries would need a few extra minutes to sort things out in the championship game of the MAC tournament. With each team trading haymaker runs throughout the game, senior Brett McKnight stepped up and nailed two free throws with 12.8 seconds left in overtime to regain the Zips' lead and the defense would handle things from there, forcing an off-balance runner followed by a blocked three-point attempt at the buzzer to seal a thrilling 66-65 victory and return Akron to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus.
It certainly didn't appear to be Akron's night early on as Kent State jumped all over the Zips, reaching its largest advantage of the night just four and a half minutes into the game at 14-3. Luckily for the multitudes of Akron fans in attendance, Steve McNees proved that experience counts, cashing in back-to-back threes to draw Akron within five points and halting the Kent State momentum. The game settled into a rhythm from there with Akron drawing even for the first time at 24 apiece and taking its first lead of the game at 33-31 heading into halftime thanks to two more McNees bombs.
The second half became a see-saw battle throughout until Akron was able to break through with a six-point edge at 54-48 after a tough Darryl Roberts drive with just less than five minutes remaining in regulation, forcing Kent State into a timeout. The Golden Flashes responded quickly behind the unconscious outside shooting of Randal Holt. Holt converted on back-to-back threes with less than four minutes left to bring the game back to even once again at 56-56. The final minutes then became a free-throw contest that neither side wanted to win, sending the game into an extra five minutes tied at 59.
Holt started the extra period by nailing another three, his fourth of the game, but Akron's senior leaders refused to be put away. McKnight hit on a tough turnaround to bring the game within one at 63-62 and Roberts used a nifty spin in the lane to open up room for a high floater over the defense to give the lead back to the Zips in the final minute.
Showing mettle of their own, the Golden Flashes jumped back on top as Carlton Guyton swished a mid-range jumper from the wing with 39 seconds left. On the ensuing Akron possession, McKnight was fouled and recovered from an airballed free throw at the end of regulation to knock down two and provide the Zips' final margin of 66-65. With no timeouts remaining on either side, Kent State couldn't get a good look in the final seconds, setting off a raucous celebration from many of the 8, 926 fans in attendance.
Akron will find out its next opponent during tomorrow evening's NCAA Selection Show. As regular-season league champion, Kent State is assured of making the NIT and will learn of its opponent tomorrow night as well.
MAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Jarrod Jones, Ball State
Michael Porrini, Kent State
Justin Greene, Kent State
Brett McKnight, Akron
Zeke Marshall, Akron -- MVP
Notes:
-Zeke Marshall broke his own school record and set a MAC tournament record with nine blocks, all of them coming in the second half and overtime.
-Akron improves to 4-0 on the season in overtime games, and 4-3 all-time in overtime MAC Tournament contests.
-The Zips also improve to 10-0 on Saturdays this season.
-Steve McNees entered tonight with a career-high of one block in a game. He blocked his second shot of the game in the final second of overtime to seal the win for Akron and send them on to the NCAA Tournament.
-Akron was able to overcome a scoreless night from junior Brett McClanahan thanks to stellar bench contributions. The Zips' bench outscored Kent State's bench 29-17 in the game, including a game-high 15 from Brett McKnight.
-Entering the tournament as a #6, Akron becomes the highest seed other than #9 Ohio of a year ago to be crowned as MAC champion.
