Akron basketball score vs Miami | Zips repeat as MAC Tournament champs in dramatic fashion

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Akron basketball score vs Miami | Zips repeat as MAC Tournament champs in dramatic fashion

Nate Ulrich and Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Mar 15, 2025 ·

10 min read

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CLEVELAND — In one fell swoop, the Akron Zips men's basketball team captured its second consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament title, the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and a program record for most wins in a season with 28.

Top-seeded Akron repeated as the MAC tourney champion Saturday night with a dramatic 76-74 win over No. 2 Miami , whose coach, Travis Steele , is the brother of Zips coach John Groce . In Friday's semifinals, Akron defeated No. 4 Toledo 100-90 and Miami edged No. 3 Kent State 72-64 .

Here is how Akron (28-6) versus Miami (25-9) unfolded through our updates at Rocket Arena :

Akron guard Nate Johnson makes game-winning shot with 2.3 seconds left

After Miami guard Evan Ipsaro missed a hook shot contested by UA's Tavari Johnson with 8 seconds remaining, Akron guard Nate Johnson ran the floor on a fast break and made a game-winning floating layup in the lane with 2.3 seconds remaining on an assist from Zips forward Amani Lyles.

Johnson maneuvered past Miami guard Peter Suder to get the shot off. Lyles grabbed a defensive rebound off Ipsaro's miss before throwing the ball down the court for Johnson.

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After Johnson's clutch shot, Ipsaro fired a desperation shot from beyond half court and missed as the Zips held on for the victory.

Johnson, who was named MAC Tournament MVP, finished with 22 points to lead UA. Suder had a game-high 24 points.

Akron guard Tavari Johnson contributed 15 points. Lyles finished with six points and 14 rebounds for the Zips.

Ipsaro posted 12 points for Miami.

Akron led for just 2 minutes and 41 seconds. Miami led for 35 minutes and 27 seconds.

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Akron and Miami are tied 74-74 with 35.6 seconds left

The score was tied 74-74 with 35.6 seconds remaining.

Akron guard Nate Johnson made a short jump shot to tie the score 72-72 with 1:41 left.

Then Akron guard Shammah Scott made two free throws to give UA a 74-72 lead with 1:05 remaining. It was the Zips' first lead since early in the game when Nate Johnson made a layup to give UA a 6-5 advantage with 18:11 remaining in the first half.

But Miami didn't fold. With 56.5 seconds left, RedHawks guard Evan Ipsaro made two free throws to tie the score 74-74.

Akron Zips coach John Groce hoists up the Mid-American Conference championship trophy after beating Miami at Rocket Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. — Akron Zips coach John Groce lifts the Mid-American Conference championship trophy after beating Miami, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland.

Akron cuts Miami's lead to two points with 5:14 left in the second half

Akron trailed 72-70 during a replay review resulting in a common foul on Miami with 4:30 left in the second half. The Zips were in the midst of a 9-2 run.

Akron guard Nate Johnson made a 3-pointer with 5:14 remaining to cut UA's deficit to two points. Before Johnson's 3, guards Tavari Johnson and Shammah Scott also drained 3s to start Akron's outburst.

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Akron trails Miami 70-64 with 7:07 remaining in the second half

Miami leads Akrom 70-64 with 7:07 remaining in the second half. Akron is in striking distance with Tavari Johnson making two 3-pointers and Bowen Hardman making one 3. Miami's Kam Craft and Luke Skaljac have each made 3s recently.

Miami's Peter Suder has missed his last two shots and is at 24 points. He started the game 9 of 10 from the field, including 6 of 7 from 3-point range. Craft has 11 points and Evan Ipsaro has 10 points.

Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson have 15 points apiece for Akron.

Miami leads Akron 61-53 with 11:57 to go in the second half

Akron cut its deficit to 58-52 with 13:00 when Nate Johnson made a jumper.

Miami countered with a 3-pointer by Peter Suder to lead 61-52 with 12:41 to go.

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Suder has 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, including 6 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Nate Johnson has 15 points for Akron.

Akron trails Miami 56-45 with 14:27 remaining in the second half

Mekhi Cooper made a 3-pointer right before the shot clock expired to give Miami a 56-45 lead with 14:29 to go in the second half. Antwone Woolfolk assisted on the 3. The RedHawks called a timeout two seconds later.

Akron cut its deficit to eight points (53-45) when Isaiah Gray made a jumper with 15:24 to go.

Peter Suder has made a jumper and a 3-pointer to start the second half and is up to 21 points.

Nate Johnson leads Akron with 11 points.

Miami leads Akron 46-34 at halftime

Miami closed the first half with a mini 5-2 run to lead Akron 46-34 at halftime.

Akron led Miami 52-28 at halftime when the team's met in the regular season. The Zips were the hot 3-point shooting team in that game. The RedHawks are returning the favor tonight.

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Miami is 18 of 33 from the field, including 10 of 18 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 0 of 2 from the free-throw line.

Akron is 12 of 27 from the field, including 2 of 11 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Peter Suder has made 6 of 7 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range for 16 points for Miami. Kam Craft has eight points and Evan Ipsaro has seven points and four assists.

The RedHawks have an edge in second-chance points (11-1) and points off turnovers (11-2).

Nate Johnson has seven points for Akron. Amani Lyles and Isaiah Gray have six points apiece for the Zips.

Akron trims deficit to 41-32 against Miami with 2:01 remaining in the first half

Akron is showing signs of life after trailing by as many as 18 points (34-16) with 8:13 remaining in the first half.

The Zips are on a 14-5 run. Amani Lyles started the spurt with a 3-pointer with 6:33 to go. That was Akron's first 3 of the game after it missing its first seven attempts from distance.

Isaiah Gray has made two layups during Akron's run.

Akron trails Miami 34-16 with 7:48 left in the first half

Akron trailed Miami 34-16 during a media timeout with 7:48 left before halftime.

Miami guard Peter Suder has been on fire and crushing UA. He is 6-of-7 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 on 3-pointers. He had 16 points at this juncture. He has fueled a 17-3 Miami run, scoring 11 of those 17 points.

Miami is shooting 13 of 19 from the field (8 of 12 on 3s).

Akron is shooting 6 of 18 from the floor (0 of 6 on 3s).

Akron Zips fall behind Miami 29-15 with 9:48 left in the first half

Akron took a timeout with 9:48 left in the first half in the midst of a 12-2 Miami run sparked by a barrage of 3-pointers.

Guard Peter Suder made back-to-back 3s to give Miami a 29-15 lead and prompt UA to take a timeout. At this stage of the game, Suder had 11 points.

Akron Zips trail Miami RedHawks 17-13 with 11:52 left in the first half

Akron trailed Miami 17-13 during a media timeout with 11:52 remaining in the first half.

Miami is defending the perimeter well, limiting Akron's 3-point-happy offense to zero successful 3s through the first eight minutes of the game. The Zips are 6-of-14 shooting from the field (0 for 3 on 3s).

Guard Nate Johnson and forward James Okonkwo led Akron with four points each at this juncture.

Guards Kam Craft and Suder led Miami with five points apiece.

Miami led Akron in second-chance points 8-0, even though the two teams were tied with seven rebounds apiece.

Miami leads Akron 8-6 with 15:38 left in the first half

Akron trailed Miami 8-6 during a media timeout with 15:38 left in the first half.

The Zips did not trail at all in either of their first two MAC Tournament games, but guard Mekhi Cooper drained a 3-pointer on Miami's first possession to give the RedHawks a 3-2 advantage with 19:17 remaining in the first half.

Akron started the game 3-of-9 shooting from the field (0 of 2 on 3-pointers). Miami began 3-of-6 shooting from the floor (2 of 4 on 3s).

UA missed three consecutive layup attempts (one was blocked) before the first media timeout of the game.

Here is some pregame information:

How to watch today's Akron-Miami basketball MAC Tournament championship game on TV. How to listen on radio

The MAC Tournament title game can be watched on ESPN2. It will be broadcast on local radio via WHLO (640-AM).

More MAC Tournament men's basketball: Brothers lead Akron, Miami into championship game

Projected starting lineup for Akron against Miami

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

Projected starting lineup for Miami against Akron

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

What is Akron basketball's MAC Tournament history?

Akron entered Saturday with a record of 40-21 in MAC Tournament games. The Zips had won five MAC tourney championships (2009, 2011, 2013, 2022 and 2024).

Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson reaches for the ball against Miami guard Bradley Dean during the first half of a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal, Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Cleveland.

What is the history between the Akron Zips and Miami RedHawks in men's basketball?

Akron entered Saturday 4-2 in MAC Tournament games against Miami. Last year, Akron eliminated Miami from the MAC tourney with a 75-63 win in the quarterfinal round.

Akron is 39-33 in its all-time series with Miami. The Zips won the lone 2024-25 regular-season meeting by prevailing 102-75 on Jan. 25.

More Zips men's basketball: MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson comes up big in Akron's semifinal win vs. Toledo

Akron basketball's record-setting season

By defeating Toledo in the semifinal round, Akron tied its single-season record for most wins with 27. The 2016-17 Zips coached by Keith Dambrot finished 27-9 and had sole possession of the UA record until Friday night.

The Zips set a program record for most regular-season wins (25). Akron had previously won 24 games in two other regular seasons (2006-07 and 2019-20). The Zips won 14 consecutive games at one point en route to winning the MAC regular-season championship by three games over second-place Miami.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron men's basketball score vs Miami MAC Tournament recap

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