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Akron Zips use another fast start to secure men's basketball win
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- Akron Zips use another fast start to secure men's basketball win
University of Akron men's basketball senior guard Tavari Johnson returned to his usual spot as the leading scorer Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Rhodes Arena.
Johnson had five points and five assists in the first half against Ball State , and then found his scoring touch in the second half to lead Akron to an 87-77 win in a Mid-American Conference game .
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Johnson finished with 22 points and seven assists as Akron (13-4, 4-1) dispatched Ball State (4-13, 0-5).
"It was a good team win," said Johnson , who scored 20 or more points for the 10th time this season.
"The team played really hard. We gotta finish better. We didn't finish the game like we were supposed to at all. I wasn't making 3s. I was 2 of 10 from 3, but I started attacking the basket and it started working out for me better that way."
Johnson made 7 of 10 2-point shots and both of his free throws in over 36 minutes. His performance came after a four-point, seven-assist game on Jan. 9 in a 77-67 win at Bowling Green.
Akron Zips guard Tavari Johnson drives to the basket past Ball State guard Ethan Brittain-Watts in the first half, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Akron jumped out to leads of 8-0 and 14-2 against Ball State after leading Bowling Green 24-4.
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"The [starting] lineup we went with recently [with Johnson, Amani Lyles, Evan Mahaffey, Sharron Young and Zach Halligan], and then the second group that comes in has done a great job," Akron coach John Groce said.
"... Give the guys credit, they really came strong those first eight minutes or so, which is awesome. It is what you want."
Akron's largest lead was 74-52 with 7:38 to go in the second half after Halligan made a 3.
Akron's Tavari Johnson (5) shoots a layup as Kent State's Cian Medley (11) defends during the first half Feb. 28, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Groce described the final eight minutes as "really disappointing" as Ball State outscored Akron 25-13.
"Our focus wasn't great," Groce said. "... We get an opportunity to learn from a win. My hat's off to Ball State because I thought they competed for 40 minutes tonight. From start to finish. They take on the personality of coach [Michael] Lewis. I have known him for a long time. He does a great job. They compete, they are tough, they play hard and they play physical.
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"Unfortunately, our guys didn't get the memo that it was a 40-minute game. They got the memo, I guess, that it was 32 minutes."
Lyles said "staying composed and staying poised" and "playing defense" are pivotal each game.
Akron Zips forward Amani Lyles shoots a 3-pointer over James Madison forward Gabe Newhof on Nov. 3, 2025.
"They are a hungry team," Lyles said of Ball State. "They were relentless, so we have to take pride and keep defending them for 40 minutes."
Akron was a plus-28 with Lyles, a senior forward, on the floor. He made 6 of 10 shots from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range, and 5 of 6 free throws to finish with 19 points and 12 rebounds in 29 minutes.
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"He was physical on the glass and physical finishing," Groce said. "... Amani is a stud when he has his mind right and he is focused, playing with effort, playing with physicality and he is dialed in. He is as good as any big in the league."
Akron Zips guard Shammah Scott (1) celebrates his 3-pointer against Miami during the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland.
Akron senior Shammah Scott made 6 of 12 shots from the field, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and both of his free throws to finish with 18 points and four rebounds.
"Shammah has the ability to make really hard shots," Groce said. "He has got a gift. He is really good at it. He can really pass. He is a goot athlete."
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Senior Evan Mahaffey totaled 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Senior Bowen Hardman contributed six points.
Akron Zips wing Evan Mahaffey (12) celebrates during a game Nov. 3, 2025, in Akron.
"Just attacking the glass, that is our biggest thing," Lyles said. "We have length and athleticism. Using my strength to my advantage has been my biggest thing."
Groce did not have an update on Young, who was limited to three minutes because of an injury.
Ball State junior guard Armoni Zeigler matched his career-high with 30 points and grabbed five rebounds in 37 minutes. He made 11 of 18 shots from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and all five of his free throws.
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"He was dominating the game, especially in the first half," Mahaffey said of Zeigler, who previously played at Saint Peter's.
"He had 18 points in the first half. He was getting to his spots. We let him get too comfortable to begin the game, so a lot more stuff was falling. He hit some tough shots. ... Kudos to him, but we gotta cut people's water off earlier."
Akron's Amani Lyles blocks a shot at the rim by Toledo's Isaiah Adams on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
Ball State's Elmore James IV finished with 17 points and Davion Hill had 15 points and six rebounds.
"I thought they were really good," Groce said. "I thought they were competitive and tough."
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Lewis lauded Akron as "a really good team that is well coached and has got great talent."
"I have got a ton of respect for John, his program, how they operate and what they do here," Lewis said. "He has got a really good team. I think offensively, it is a really good team. They play well together, obviously. Tavari is Tavari. He does a lot of things and we didn't have an answer for him in the second half when he wanted to take over.
"I was happy with our guys fight. ... We are down some key guys right now with some injuries [in Kayden Fish, Joey Hart and Juwan Maxey]. I appreciate that these guys show up everyday and work."
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tavari Johnson, Amani Lyles lead Akron basketball past Ball State
