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Akron basketball score, recap vs. NIU | Zips extend streak, honor Enrique Freeman
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- Akron basketball score, recap vs. NIU | Zips extend streak, honor Enrique Freeman
Akron remained the hottest men's basketball program in the country Tuesday night, defeating Northern Illinois 73-63 after the Zips honored UA great Enrique Freeman by unveiling his jersey number in the rafters at Rhodes Arena during a halftime ceremony.
Victorious in each of its past 14 games, Akron extended the nation's longest active winning streak in a Mid-American Conference showdown and on what UA dubbed "Enrique Freeman Night."
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When the Indiana Pacers picked Freeman during the second round (No. 50 overall) in June, he became the first Zips player drafted by an NBA team since 1987. A Cleveland native, Freeman was voted an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection and the MAC Player of the Year last season as a UA senior.
With Freeman in attendance, here is how Akron (21-5, 13-0) vs. Northern Illinois (5-21, 1-12) unfolded through our updates.
Shammah Scott delivers in crunch time as Akron Zips defeat Northern Illinois Huskies 73-63
With 53.5 seconds left, Zips guard Shammah Scott made a 3-pointer, which survived a replay review because Scott released the ball just before the shot clock expired.
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After Northern Illinois guard James Dent Jr. made a 3-pointer, Scott drew a foul and drained two free throws to extend UA's lead to 71-63 with 32.2 seconds remaining. Zips guard Tavari Johnson tacked on two more free throws with 18.7 seconds left.
Scott and Johnson led Akron with 15 points apiece. Zips guard Nate Johnson added 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Northern Illinois guard Quentin Jones scored a game-high 28 points.
Akron Zips guard Shammah Scott (1) shoots against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Feb. 18, 2025, in Akron.
Akron leads 66-60 late and is trying to hold on against Northern Illinois
Jones refused to stop fighting. A 3-pointer and layup by Jones cut UA's lead to 64-58.
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The Zips went ahead 66-58 when Nate Johnson made two free throws, but Huskies guard Steven Tipton countered with a putback. Akron led 66-60 during a timeout with 1:15 left in the first half.
Shammah Scott answers NIU's Quentin Jones with a clutch play for the Akron Zips
Akron led 64-53 with 3:02 left in the second half, when Scott produced a three-point play with a layup and a successful free throw.
The clutch play provided an answer to another 3-pointer by Jones, who had three 3s and a game-high 23 points at this juncture. Scott has 10 points.
Akron Zips forward Amani Lyles (0) fouls Northern Illinois Huskies guard James Dent Jr. (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Akron leads Northern Illinois 59-50 with 4:38 left in the second half
The Zips continue to give themselves breathing room, but it's still too close for their comfort as they lead 59-50 with 4:38 remaining.
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Forward Amani Lyles gave them the nine-point cushion by making a layup shortly before an NIU timeout.
Northern Illinois remains in striking distance vs. Akron with 7:02 left
Akron led 51-44 during a timeout with 7:02 left in the second half. Jones has been keeping his team afloat for much of the game. He made a 3-pointer to slice UA's lead to 49-42 with 8:12 remaining. The two teams then traded baskets to make it 51-44 in favor of the Zips.
At this stage of the game, Jones had a game-high 17 points.
Akron Zips head coach John Groce reacts after a missed shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Akron leads Northern Illinois 45-35 with 11:29 left in the second half
UA can do more than shoot 3-pointers, as evidenced by it leading NIU 22-14 in points in the paint.
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Akron led Northern Illinois 45-35 with 11:29 left in the second half after Lyles dunked in transition, Scott made a layup and guard Sharron Young sank two foul shots.
Akron Zips basketball opens 2nd half on run to regain lead
The Zips scored the first eight points of the second half, reclaiming a 36-31 lead. Akron held the Huskies scoreless the opening 4:08 of the second half. Akron's lead was 38-33 with 15:04 left in the second half when the Huskies called a timeout.
Akron blows 16-point lead and trails Northern Illinois 31-28 at halftime
This is a crazy statistic: Akron led for 18 minutes and 40 seconds in the first half but trailed Northern Illinois 31-28 at halftime.
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Akron didn't trail at all until guard Kailon Nicholls made a 3-pointer to give Northern Illinois a 31-28 edge with 19 seconds left in the first half.
UA had led by as many as 16 points. Its lead vanished, though, as Northern Illinois tied the score 28-28 when Nicholls made two foul shots with 1:04 left before halftime.
Northern Illinois uses 8-0 run to reduce its deficit against Akron
Akron led by as many as 16 points but had its lead trimmed to 24-19 when Northern Illinois went on an 8-0 run.
The Zips ended their drought when Nate Johnson dunked on an alley-oop pass from fellow guard Tavari Johnson. UA went ahead 26-19 and led by the same margin during a timeout with 3:38 left in the first half.
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Akron leads 24-11 vs. Northern Illinois with 7:42 left in the first half
UA's pace is giving NIU problems.
Akron led 24-11 during a media timeout with 7:42 left in the first half. And at this stage, the Zips had outscored the Huskies 7-0 in fast-break points.
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) shoots over Northern Illinois Huskies guard Nasir Muhammad (7) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
UA leads NIU 22-9 with 9:31 left in the first half
Defense leads to transition offense for the Zips when they're rolling.
UA forward James Okonkwo blocked the shot of Jones on an attempted layup. Then on the other end of the floor, Zips guard Bowen Hardman made a 3-pointer to give UA an 18-6 lead with 12:59 left in the first half.
Akron had a 22-9 advantage during the second media timeout with 9:31 remaining in the first half. At this juncture, guard Tavari Johnson led a balanced UA attack with five points.
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The Akron Zips lead the Northern Illinois Huskies 12-2 with 15:08 left in the first half
Akron jumped out to a 12-2 lead and held the 10-point advantage during the first media timeout with 15:08 remaining in the first half.
Tavari Johnson got off to a hot start with a 3-pointer and a layup during what would become a 12-0 run by UA.
Akron Zips guard Tavari Johnson (5) drives to the basket against Northern Illinois Huskies guard Nasir Muhammad (7) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Here is some pregame information:
The Akron Zips have the nation's longest winning streak among men's basketball teams. What is the school record for consecutive wins?
Akron entered Tuesday with a 13-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation. Towson ranks second with a 12-game winning streak.
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According to UA, the Zips still have a decent amount of work to do to break program records for most wins in a row.
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19 consecutive wins during the 2012-13 season is Akron's longest winning streak in its Division I era
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21 consecutive wins during the 1958-59 season is Akron's longest winning streak regardless of division
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22 consecutive wins from 1918-20 is Akron's longest winning streak spanning multiple seasons
Akron Zips guard Shammah Scott (1) celebrates a 3-pointer against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent, Ohio.
The Akron Zips men have a perfect home record during the 2024-25 college basketball season
Akron is 13-0 at home this season. According to UA, only 14 of the 364 men's hoops teams in NCAA Division I are unbeaten at home this season. No other MAC team has an unblemished home record this season.
Speaking of the MAC, UA would improve to 13-0 in the conference for the first time since the 2012-13 season with a win over Northern Illinois.
More Akron Zips men's basketball: Tavari Johnson goes from 'quiet as a church mouse' to making noise with UA
University of Akron head coach John Groce check a video replay on the scoreboard during the game against Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]
What is the history between Akron and Northern Illinois in men's basketball?
Earlier this season, Akron prevailed 80-70 at Northern Illinois on Jan. 28.
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Akron leads its all-time series with Northern Illinois 33-14. UA has won the past four meetings.
And Akron's John Groce is 9-3 in his head coaching career against NIU.
Why are Zips so hot right now?: UA remains atop MAC men's basketball standings with 'modern NBA-style offense'
Zips basketball broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Akron vs Northern Illinois men's basketball game?
The Akron-Northern Illinois game will be televised on ESPN+, with Michael Reghi serving as the play-by-play announcer and Jeff Phelps the analyst. It will be broadcast on local radio via WHLO (640-AM), with Dave Skoczen doing play by play and Joe Dunn analyzing.
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips basketball extends nation's longest win streak vs. N. Illinois
