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Akron, Kent State win men's basketball games Tuesday before Friday's rivalry game
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- Akron, Kent State win men's basketball games Tuesday before Friday's rivalry game
The University of Akron and Kent State men's basketball teams will meet at 9 p.m. Friday at Rhodes Arena as two of the hottest teams in the Mid-American Conference.
The rivalry game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
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Akron (22-6, 14-1) remained atop the MAC standings Tuesday with a 87-82 win at host Ball State (14-14, 7-8).
Kent State (19-9, 9-6) continued its charge Tuesday with a 105-65 win over Toledo (16-12, 9-6) at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
The Zips, who lost Saturday at Ohio, have won 14 of their last 15 games. The Flashes have won six of their last seven games since losing 85-71 to visiting Akron on Jan. 31.
Akron Zips guard Tavari Johnson (5) drives to the basket ahead of Kent State Golden Flashes guard Jalen Sullinger (13) during the first half Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent, Ohio.
Tavari Johnson leads Akron to win at Ball State
Tavari Johnson led Akron past Ball State with 21 points and two assists and Shammah Scott contributed 18 points and five assists. Amani Lyles totaled 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks; Nate Johnson added 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists; Isaiah Gray finished with nine points; and Sharron Young scored seven points.
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"I love playing with these guys," Scott said to Zips radio broadcasters Joe Dunn and David Skoczen. "... Tavari got in foul trouble early, so him coming back into the game and bringing that spark, playing aggressive and being confident in himself was big for our team. That pushed us a lot and then everybody else chipped in as well. Amani Lyles, Sharron Young, Bowen Hardman, Seth Wilson, Nate Johnson, the whole team is strength in numbers."
Akron led 47-39 at halftime. The Zips limited Ball State center Payton Sparks to three points, but struggled defending guards Jermahri Hill (26 points) and Mickey Pearson Jr. (24 points).
"We played really hard," Akron coach John Groce said to Dunn and Skoczen. "We struggled to defend them tonight without fouling. That was a big thing. I thought we were much more connected and we played with some toughness and some energy. I thought we tried to play for each other tonight and the offense was much better in terms of how it flowed. ... The kid Hill is extremely fast and hard to keep in front and obviously Sparks is a complete load inside."
Former Akron standout Enrique Freeman , a rookie with the Indiana Pacers , was in attendance with his girlfriend, Anjali Silverheels.
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"They had a day off and he was willing to make the drive up from Indianapolis to watch his alma mater play," Groce said. "It is always great to have him around. It was great to honor him last week. He is a guy who cares and means a lot to our program."
Kent State Golden Flashes forward VonCameron Davis (1) attempts to knock the ball away from Akron Zips forward James Okonkwo (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent, Ohio.
VonCameron Davis leads Kent State to win over Toledo
VonCameron Davis made five 3-pointers and led Kent over Toledo with 21 points. Jamal Sumlin contributed 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals; Marquis Barnett scored 19 points; Delrecco Gillespie totaled 16 points, six rebounds and four steals; Cli'Ron Hornbeak finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks; and Jalen Sullinger scored six points.
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"We keep putting our foot on the gas and keep playing the way we are playing, we can make a run," Sumlin said to reporters.
Kent State led 54-30 at halftime. Sam Lewis (17 points) and Sonny Wilson (13 points) paced Toledo.
"Great bounce-back win for us [after losing at Miami on Friday] and glad we secured ourselves a seed and an opportunity to play in Cleveland [in the MAC Tournament]," Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said. "I am proud of the entire team for our effort."
Akron, Miami and Ohio have also clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament.
"It is good to get league wins, it is good to get wins late in the season and it is good to be playing well," Senderoff said. "... To hold Toledo to 65 points is a great job by our guys. They have won the regular-season title in this league for four straight years because they have had consistently very, very good players and great coaching."
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Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron, Kent State men's basketball win heading into their MAC showdown
