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Akron men's basketball | MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson comes up big in semifinal win
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- Akron men's basketball | MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson comes up big in semifinal win
CLEVELAND — University of Akron redshirt junior Nate Johnson displayed his scoring prowess and all-around game Friday night in the Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament .
Johnson shot the ball efficiently and made the correct passes on offense. He moved his feet, contested shots and rebounded on defense.
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Simply put, Johnson showed why league coaches selected him as the MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year to lead Akron to a 100-90 win over Toledo in a MAC Tournament semifinal at Rocket Arena.
Johnson scored a career-high 31 points and also had six assists, five rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one turnover in just over 35 minutes as MAC regular-season champion Akron (27-6) advanced to meet Miami in the MAC Tournament final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
"I thought he was a stud," Akron coach John Groce said. "He's been that way all year because he can play both ends. Obviously, he's the Defensive Player of the Year as well. He's smart, he's great in scouting. He can guard multiple positions. He can hurt you on the glass, he can get to the free-throw line, he can drive it.
"Today, he shot it well. He just does so many things. He's so versatile, has great positional size and athleticism, and on top of that has ridiculous character. So, that's kind of who he is, right?"
Akron guard Nate Johnson fights for a second-half rebound against Toledo guard Isaiah Adams in the MAC Tournament semifinals Friday in Cleveland
Johnson made 10 of 16 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 8 of 8 free throws as Akron beat Toledo for a third time this season.
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"He's just so strong," Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said of Johnson. "He played great at their place [and scored 28 points in a 85-78 win on Jan. 14]. He deserved it. John got my vote for Coach of the Year. He got my vote for Player of the Year. They both deserved it.
"Team wins the league. He should be coach of the year and the best player on that team he was, in my opinion, that was a no-brainer. He's so physical. He draws fouls. He can shoot just good enough to keep you honest. He's clearly not their best shooter, but he can shoot it. He's a good player."
Akron guard Nate Johnson drives to the basket past Toledo guard Sam Lewis in the second half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals at Rocket Arena, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Cleveland.
Johnson's Friday performance came after he totaled three points, eight rebounds, five assists, a block, a steal and a turnover in 22 minutes in Thursday's 96-67 win over Bowling Green in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal.
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"Yesterday, obviously, he didn't score as many but I thought he impacted the game rebounding," Groce said. "He impacted the game defensively. He was in a little bit of foul trouble, but the beauty of Nate is after the game he is celebrating with the six other guys that scored in double figures and is excited about the team win, and was alert during scouting last night at our first team meeting in prep for this game. He was engaged, and you'd never know, and he'll be the same way when he got 31. So, that's the beauty of Nate."
Johnson acknowledged his mindset was "to be more aggressive" Friday.
"Yesterday was more of, we had other guys hitting and I was just trying to make a statement on defense and play defense and take care of the other side," Johnson said.
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson shoots over Toledo forward Andre Lorentsson in the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals at Rocket Arena, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Cleveland.
"Today was a little bit, I was hitting shots, more aggressive on offense and still while trying to impact the game on defense. And then you got other guys like [Tavari Johnson] and Shammah [Scott] just picking it up on offense, too."
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Tavari Johnson and Isaiah Gray scored 15 points apiece, Scott scored 14 points and Amani Lyles contributed 12 points and nine rebounds. The Zips made 32 of 57 shots from the field, including 10 of 18 from deep, and 26 of 33 free throws.
Seth Hubbard paced Toledo (18-15) with 28 points and Sam Lewis finished with 23 points. Javan Simmons totaled 18 points and seven rebounds and Sonny Wilson added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Nate Johnson celebrates after a first-half 3-pointer during the MAC Tournament semifinals Friday in Cleveland.
"We shared the ball, moved the ball and early on we made a lot of 3s," Groce said. "... They were challenging to stop today. Toledo does a good job offensively. I thought our offense, at the end of the day, won the day."
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Reigning MAC Tournament champion Akron is set to meet Miami, a 72-64 winner over Kent State in Friday's second game , in Saturday's final.
The Zips beat Miami 102-75 in Akron on Jan. 25.
Akron guard Nate Johnson looks to block a first-half shot by Toledo guard Isaiah Adams in the MAC Tournament semifinals Friday in Cleveland
"This would be the second time I get to play for a [MAC Tournament] championship with this team," Nate Johnson said. "I mean, what kid wouldn't want to be in this big arena? It's going to be a packed crowd. ... You just got to be here for the moment."
Akron fans make Rocket Arena feel "kind of like a home game," Nate Johnson added.
"We bring a whole bunch of energy," he said. "It's like playing in the JAR [James A. Rhodes Arena]. Once we get a run going, you start hearing the crowd, it just gives you more energy to go on that other side, the defensive side, get a stop, come back on offense and just engage with the crowd and try to get something going."
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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: Nate Johnson leads Akron basketball into MAC Tournament title game
