Akron basketball score, recap vs. Miami | Zips top RedHawks in MAC showdown

Story by

Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Jan 25, 2025 ·

9 min read

The University of Akron Zips hosted the Miami RedHawks on Saturday in a matchup between the top two men's basketball teams in the Mid-American Conference at Rhodes Arena.

Akron compiled a fast start and rolled to a 102-75 win before a crowd of 2,834.

Reigning MAC Tournament champion Akron improved to 14-5 overall and 7-0 in the MAC. Miami dropped to 14-5 overall and 6-1 in the MAC.

Akron is 7-0 in the MAC for the second time under coach John Groce as the 2024-2025 team joins the 2023-2024 team. The Zips were 7-0 in the MAC twice under former coach Keith Dambrot, starting the 2012-2013 season with a 13-0 league record and the 2016-2017 season with a 9-0 league mark.

Akron defeated the visiting Ohio Bobcats 92-80 last Friday night and then topped host Buffalo 90-58 on Tuesday night .

Akron has scored 85 or more points six games in a row and are 11-0 when doing so this season.

Here is how the game between Akron and Miami unfolded through our updates:

Akron guard Isaiah Gray secures a rebound against Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Akron dominates Miami in Mid-American Conference men's college basketball

Akron dominates Miami and wins 102-75.

Tavari Johnson scored 15 points and had six assists to lead Akron. Seth Wilson and Nate Johnson each had 14 points and two assists. Nate Johnson also grabbed seven rebounds and had four steals.

Akron's Isaiah Gray had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Bowen Hardman scored 12 points, Amani Lyles totaled 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Shammah Scott had eight points, nine rebounds and four assists. Sharron Young scored seven points.

Miami's leading scorers were Peter Suder (18 points), Brant Byers (14 points) and Evan Ipsaro (12 points).

Akron shot 36 of 65 from the field, including 15 of 34 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 15 of 19 from the free throw line. The Zips finished with an edge in rebounds (41-24) and assists (21-15).

Miami shot 28 of 60 from the field, including 8 of 25 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 11 of 15 from the free throw line.

Akron maintains large lead over Miami in second half of men's college basketball game

Akron leads Miami 78-47 with 10:50 to go in the second half. The RedHawks are shooting the ball better, but the Zips remain ahead by a wide margin.

Tavari Johnson has 13 points for Akron and Seth Wilson and Nate Johnson are each at 12 points. Bowen Hardman is at 10 points for the Zips, Isaiah Gray has nine points and Amani Lyles, Shammah Scott and Sharron Young have six points apiece.

Brant Byers leads Miami with 10 points, Kam Craft is at nine points and Peter Suder has eight points.

Akron is running Miami off the floor in a men's college basketball game

Akron's run to open the second half is at 16-3. The Zips lead is 68-31 after a Amani Lyles two-hand slam dunk with 16:29 to go. Prior to Lyles' dunk, Akron's Seth Wilson made another 3-pointer and Tavari Johnson converted a layup.

Central Michigan's Cayden Vasko goes up to defend a 3-point shot by University of Akron's Tavari Johnson on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron continues to dominate Miami in second half of men's college basketball game

Akron opened the second half with a 9-0 run to lead 61-28 with 18:18 remaining in the game.

Tavari Johnson made two free throws, Seth Wilson swished a 3-pointer, Nate Johnson contributed a two-hand slam dunk and Amani Lyles added a layup.

Akron leads Miami at halftime of men's college basketball game

Akron leads Miami 52-28 at halftime. Akron's largest lead was 52-24 with 1:43 to go following a two-hand slam dunk by Nate Johnson.

Tavari Johnson leads Akron with nine points and four assists. Nate Johnson and Bowen Hardman have eight points apiece, Isaiah Gray is at seven points and Seth Wilson and Sharron Young are both at six points.

Kam Craft has six points for Miami and Brant Byers is at five points.

Akron is 20 of 35 from the field, including 10 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

Miami is 10 of 31 from the field, including 3 of 13 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

University of Akron's Seth Wilson puts up a 3-point shot as Toledo's Javan Simmons defends on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Seth Wilson, Shammah Scott increase lead for Akron against Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

Seth Wilson and Shammah Scott make 3-pointers to give Akron a 44-19 lead. Miami coach Travis Steele calls his final timeout of the first half. 5:36 on the clock.

Akron is 16 of 25 from the field, including 10 of 15 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

Miami is 8 of 23 from the field, including 2 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 1 of 1 from the free throw line.

Akron guard Sharron Young shoots against Northern Kentucky during the game at the James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Sharron Young and Seth Wilson increase lead for Akron against Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

The hot 3-point shooting for Akron continues as Sharron Young and Seth Wilson swish 3s to give Akron a 36-13 lead over Miami. RedHawks coach Travis Steele calls another timeout.

Akron is 13 of 22 from the field, including 8 of 13 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

Miami is 6 of 18 from the field, including 1 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 0 of 0 from the free throw line.

Central Michigan's Ugnius Jarusevicius and University of Akron's James Okonkwo scramble after a loose ball on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

James Okonkwo extends lead for Akron against Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

James Okonkwo makes a layup and a free throw after being fouled to give Akron a 30-13 lead with 8:31 remaining in the first half.

University of Akron's Bowen Hardman puts up a 3-point shot against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Bowen Hardman extends lead for Akron against Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

Bowen Hardman swishes two 3-pointers to give Akron a 27-11 lead. Miami coach Travis Steele calls a timeout with 9:50 to go in the first half.

Akron is 10 of 18 from the field, including 6 of 11 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 1 of 1 from the free throw line.

Sharron Young extends lead for Akron against Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

Sharron Young makes a 3-pointer to give Akron a 21-9 lead over Miami. RedHawks coach Travis Steele calls a timeout with 12:27 remaining in the first half.

Akron is 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 1 of 1 from the free throw line.

University of Akron's Nate Johnson throws down a thunderous second half dunk over Central Michigan's Ugnius Jarusevicius on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Nate Johnson, Tavari Johnson and Isaiah Gray guide Akron to lead over Miami in first half of men's college basketball game

Nate Johnson has made two 3-point shots, Tavari Johnson has made a layup and 3-pointer and Isaiah Gray has contributed two layups and a free throw to guide Akron to a 18-9 lead over Miami with 13:48 to go in the first half.

Amani Lyles added a layup during Akron's fast start against Miami.

Here is some pregame information:

Who are the projected starters for the University of Akron and Miami University men's basketball teams?

Akron is projected to start the following five players:

5-11 junior Tavari Johnson
6-3 redshirt junior Nate Johnson
6-3 senior Isaiah Gray
6-2 senior Seth Wilson
6-8 senior James Okonkwo

Miami is projected to start the following five players:

6-6 sophomore Eian Elmer
6-6 redshirt sophomore Kam Craft
6-5 junior Peter Suder
6-1 sophomore Mekhi Cooper
6-9 junior Antwone Woolfork

Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson defends Akron guard Nate Johnson during the game at the James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Who are the statistical leaders for the University of Akron Zips men's basketball team?

Junior guard Nate Johnson leads Akron in scoring at 13.1 points per game and junior guard Tavari Johnson is second on the team in points at 11.9 a game. Tavari Johnson averages 4.1 assists per game and Nate Johnson is at 3.4 assists a game.

Zips senior guard Isaiah Gray (10.4 points per game) and freshman guard Sharron Young (8.6 points per game) rank third and fourth in scoring for the Zips. Senior guard Shammah Scott is fifth at 8.4 points and senior forward James Okonkwo is sixth at 7.6 points. Okonkwo leads Akron at 7.9 rebounds per game.

Akron guard Tavari Johnson drives past Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Akron.

Who are the statistical leaders for the Miami University RedHawks men's basketball team?

Redshirt sophomore guard Kam Craft leads Miami in scoring at 15.2 points per game and junior guard Peter Suder is second on the team in points at 14.1 a game. Suder averages 3.4 assists per game.

Sophomore guard Eian Elmer is averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds a game, junior forward Antwone Woolfolk is at 8.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game and sophomore guard Mekhi Cooper is at 6.6 points and 3.3 assists per game.

Akron Zips coach John Groce talks with Seth Wilson during a game against Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron.

Who are the coaches for the University of Akron and Miami University men's basketball teams?

Half brothers John Groce and Travis Steele will meet today at Rhodes Arena.

Groce has a 335-218 overall record and a 153-86 mark at Akron.

Steele has a 111-91 overall record and a 41-41 mark at Miami.

Akron Zips coach John Groce calls in a play during a game against Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron.

What is the history between the University of Akron and Miami University in men's basketball?

Akron leads 38-33 in its all-time series with Miami of Ohio. John Groce is 9-4 as Akron's coach against Miami of Ohio and 15-7 overall as he preivously was the head coach at Ohio and Illinois.

Akron defeated Miami of Ohio 75-63 last season in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal game in Cleveland .

The RedHawks topped the Zips 70-68 last season in a regular season game in Oxford .

Akron guard Isaiah Gray shoots over a Northern Kentucky defender, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Zips broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Akron, Miami game?

The Akron-Miami game can be watched on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call. Fans can listen to the Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn on the call. Live stats are also available on GoZips.com/coverage.

Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips men's basketball score vs. Miami recap, highlights