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Akron basketball score, recap vs. Western Michigan | Zips top Broncos to remain atop MAC
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- Akron basketball score, recap vs. Western Michigan | Zips top Broncos to remain atop MAC
The University of Akron men's basketball team defeated visiting Western Michigan 105-92 Tuesday night at Rhodes Arena.
Akron's 12-game win streak is the longest current streak in NCAA Division I men's basketball, as the Zips returned to league play after defeating South Alabama 80-67 Saturday in the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Challenge.
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Reigning MAC Tournament champion Akron is now 19-5 overall and 11-0 in the MAC.
Here's how the game unfolded through our live updates :
Akron tops Western Michigan in NCAA men's basketball game
Akron wins 105-92 over Western Michigan before a crowd of 1,380. The Zips shot 62.9 % percent from the field (39 of 62), including 51.9 % from beyond the 3-point arc (14 of 27) and 68.4 % from the free throw line (13 of 19).
Redshirt junior Nate Johnson leads the Zips with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in over 33 minutes. He made 6 of 9 shots from the field, including 2 of 3 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 8 of 9 free throws.
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Akron junior Tavari Johnson contributed 17 points, three rebounds and three assists in over 26 minutes. He made 7 of 11 shots from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, and 1 of 2 free throws.
Akron's other players in double figures were junior Amani Lyles (15 points, two steals), senior Isaiah Gray (10 points) and junior Bowen Hardman (12 points). Lyles made 7 of 7 shots from the field and fouled out in just under 12 minutes of action. Hardman made 4 of 4 3s in just under 12 minutes.
Zips senior James Okonkwo finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Senior Seth Wilson added seven points and six rebounds. Senior Shammah Scott had six points and three assists. Freshman Sharron Young chipped in five points and three assists.
Akron’s Nate Johnson looks to pass between Western Michigan’s Max Burton and Markhi Strickland on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Western Michigan junior Chansey Willis Jr. totaled 28 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists in over 34 minutes. Willis made 10 of 20 shots from the field, including 3 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 5 of 9 free throws.
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WMU's other top scorers were junior JaVaughn Hannah (15 points), graduate senior Donovan Williams (13 points, seven rebounds), redshirt juniors Markhi Strickland (12 points) and Brandon Muntu (11 points) and senior Owen Lobsinger (eight points).
Akron’s Amani Lyles dunks against Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
The Broncos shot 43.8 % percent from the field (32 of 73), including 36.7 % from beyond the 3-point arc (11 of 30) and 70.8 % from the free throw line (17 of 24).
Akron builds double-digit lead against Western Michigan in second half of NCAA men's basketball game
Akron’s Bowen Hardman shoots a 3-pointer over Western Michigan’s Owen Lobsinger, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Shammah Scott with a steal and a layup to give Akron a 91-81 lead. Timeout called by Western Michigan with 5:16 to go in the second half.
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Nate Johnson adds two free throws to five Akron a 93-81 lead with 4:41 remaining in the second half.
Nate Johnson has 19 points for Akron, Amani Lyles is at 15 points, Tavari Johnson has 13 points and Bowen Hardman is at 12 points.
Chansey Willis Jr. has 23 points fo WMU, JaVaughn Hannah is at 15 points, Brandon Muntu has 11 points and Markhi Strickland is at 10 points.
Nate Johnson increases Akron's lead over Western Michigan in second half of NCAA men's basketball game
Nate Johnson nails a jumper, a 3-point shot, a layup and a free throw to give Akron a 89-81 lead with 6:30 to go in the second half.
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Chansey Willis Jr., JaVaughn Hannah and Brandon Muntu rally Western Michigan against Akron in second half of men's basketball game
Western Michigan has closed the gap and trails Akron 89-77 with 9:15 to go in the second half after Brandon Muntu makes 3-point shots on consecutive possessions. Zips coach John Groce calls a timeout ay 9:14
Muntu also had a 3-point play with a layup and a free throw prior to his two 3s.
Akron built a 74-62 lead with 11:43 to go in the second half following 3s by Isaiah Gray, Bowen Hardman and Tavari Johnson. WMU then made a 15-6 run with Muntu scoring nine points and JaVaughn Hannah and Donovan Williams each making a 3-point shot.
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Isaiah Gray and Bowen Hardman extend Akron's lead over Western Michigan in second half of NCAA men's basketball game
Western Michigan closed its deficit to 65-60 with 13:21 to go in the second half when Max Burton made 1 of 2 free throws.
Akron counters with a 3-pointer by Isaiah Gray and a 3-pointer by Bowen Hardman to give the Zips a 71-60 ead with 12:32 remaining in the second half.
Western Michigan trims into Akron's lead in second half of NCAA men's basketball game
Western Michigan cuts Akron's lead to six points four times, 59-53, 61-55, 63-57 and 65-59. Chansey Willis Jr. makes two free throws to get up to 19 points. JaVaughn Hannah makes four three throws and throws down a two-hand slam dunk. Akron's Amani Lyles with another two-hand slam dunk.
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Akron maintains lead over Western Michigan in second half of NCAA men's basketball game
Akron and Western Michigan trading baskets in the first four-plus minutes of the second half. The Zips lead 59-51 with 15:38 to go in the second half. Chansey Willis Jr. is up to 17 points for WMU.
Akron guard Isaiah Gray shoots over a Northern Kentucky defender, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Akron leads Western Michigan at halftime in NCAA men's basketball game
Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes a layup and Isaiah Gray swishes a 3-pointer to conclude Akron's scoring in the first half. The Zips lead Western Michigan 52-42 at halftime.
Chansey Willis Jr. has 15 points for Western Michigan.
Amani Lyles has 11 points for Akron, Bowen Hardman has nine points and Seth Wilson is at seven points.
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Akron maintains lead over Western Michigan in NCAA men's basketball game
Reserves Amani Lyles and Bowen Hardman are playing for Akron and the Zips lead Western Michigan 42-33 with 2:45 to go in the first half.
Lyles has 11 points and Hardman has nine points on 3 of 3 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.
Chansey Willis Jr. has nine points for the Broncos and Owen Lobsinger is at eight points.
Akron forward Amani Lyles dunks between Kent State center Cli'Ron Hornbeak (42) and guard Jamal Sumlin (4) during the first half, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent.
Amani Lyles, Shammah Scott and Tavari Johnson propel Akron to larger lead against Western Michigan in NCAA men's basketball game
Amani Lyles, Shammah Scott and Tavari Johnson make 3-pointers. Akron leads Western Michigan 30-19 with 9:27 to go in the first half. The Zips are 12 of 15 from the field, including 6 of 8 from beyond the 3-point arc.
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WMU's Chansey Willis Jr. makes a 3 and JaVaughn Hannah added a layup, but Akron stretches lead to 35-24 with a two-hand dunk by Lyles and a 3 by Seth Wilson.
Timeout on the court. Akron leads 35-26 with 7:13 to go in the first half after a bucket by WMU's Markhi Strickland.
Akron Zips head coach John Groce has a word with Akron Zips guard Bowen Hardman (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent, Ohio.
Bowen Hardman extends Akron's lead against Western Michigan in NCAA men's basketball game
Bowen Hardman makes two 3-pointers to give Akron a 19-10 lead in the first half against Western Michigan.
Timeout on the court. Akron leads 21-13 with 11:55 remaining in the second half.
Akron compiles 9-0 run to separate from Western Michigan in NCAA men's basketball game
Akron put together a 9-0 run to lead Western Michigan 11-3 with 15:34 to go in the first half. The scoring surge started with a Nate Johnson jumper and 3-pointer, and also included a Isaiah Gray layup and a right-handed slam dunk by Amani Lyles.
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Zips guard Seth Wilson opened the game with a jumper and Donovan Williams answered with a 3-pointer to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead before Akron's run.
Where is Akron in the MAC basketball standings
Akron (18-5, 10-0) is atop the MAC standings. Miami (18-5, 9-1), Toledo (15-8, 8-2), Ohio (12-11, 6-4) and Kent State (15-8, 5-5) round out the top five.
WMU (7-16, 4-6), Ball State (11-12, 4-6), Central Michigan (11-12, 4-6) and Eastern Michigan (11-12, 4-6) are tied for sixth in the MAC.
Akron Zips coach John Groce talks with Sharron Young during a game against Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Akron basketball's best starts in the Mid-American Conference
Akron is 10-0 in the MAC for the first time under coach John Groce after last season's team started 7-0. The Zips were 10-0 in the MAC once under former coach Keith Dambrot, starting the 2012-13 season with a 13-0 league record. Dambrot's 2016-17 Akron team opened MAC play 9-0.
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Akron basketball projected starters
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5-11 junior Tavari Johnson
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6-3 redshirt junior Nate Johnson
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6-3 senior Isaiah Gray
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6-2 senior Seth Wilson
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6-8 senior James Okonkwo
Western Michigan basketball projected starters
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6-5 graduate senior Donovan Williams
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6-2 junior Chansey Willis Jr.
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6-4 junior JaVaughn Hannah
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6-10 redshirt sophomore Max Burton
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6-8 redshirt junior Markhi Strickland
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson looks to pass around Ball State guard Joey Hart in the second half, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Akron Zips basketball stat leaders
Junior guard Nate Johnson leads Akron in scoring at 13.5 points per game, in addition to averaging 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals. Junior guard Tavari Johnson is second on the team in scoring (12.7) and averages 4.3 assists.
The Zips' other top scorers are senior guard Isaiah Gray (10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds), freshman guard Sharron Young (8.5 points), senior guard Shammah Scott (8.2 points) and senior forward James Okonkwo (7.3 points, 7.9 rebounds).
Other rotation players, with their scoring average, are Amani Lyles (6.9), Bowen Hardman (6.6) and Seth Wilson (5.9).
Akron Zips guard Tavari Johnson drives to the basket past Ball State guard Ethan Brittain-Watts in the first half, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Western Michigan basketball stat leaders
Chansey Willis Jr. leads Western Michigan in scoring (15.2), assists (3.2) and steals (1.5), and averages 4.5 rebounds a game.
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JaVaughn Hannah and Markhi Strickland are tied for second on the team at 11.6 points per game. Other top performers are Owen Lobsinger (10.3 points, 7.2 rebounds), Donovan Williams (8.6 points, 5.3 rebounds), Max Burton (6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) and Brandon Muntu (5.8 points).
Akron Zips head coach John Groce reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Who are the coaches for Akron, Western Michigan men's basketball teams?
Akron coach John Groce has a 340-218 overall record, including a 158-86 MAC record at Akron.
Wsetern Michigan coach Dwayne Stephens is 27-59 overall as the Broncos coach.
What is the Akron vs. Western Michigan history in men's basketball?
Akron leads 39-22 in its all-time series with Western Michigan. John Groce is 9-3 as Akron's coach against Western Michigan and 12-5 overall as he previously was the head coach at Ohio.
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Akron is 21-7 at home against Western Michigan, 13-13 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and the Zips are 5-2 on a neutral court against the Broncos.
Akron defeated Western Michigan 77-66 at Rhodes Arena last season and lost 90-86 in Kalamazoo.
Zips and Broncos broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Akron vs. Western Michigan game?
The Akron-Western Michigan 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.
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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 men's basketball score vs. Western Michigan recap
