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Akron men's basketball score, Yale beats Zips for Paradise Jam title
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- Akron men's basketball score, Yale beats Zips for Paradise Jam title
Despite career-high scoring performances from guards Tavari Johnson and Shammah Scott on Monday, Nov. 24, the Akron men's basketball team lost to Yale 97-94 in the championship game of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Both teams shot better than 60% from the floor and combined for 20 3-pointers. Yale, though, was a perfect 21-of-21 from the foul line while Akron was just 6-of-9 on free throws. Yale also turned the ball over just seven times compared to 11 Akron turnovers.
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Johnson and Scott helped the Zips (5-2) erase a double-digit lead late in the first half to eventually tie the game late in second half before Yale (6-1) pulled out the win.
Johnson scored a game-high 35 points to go with eight assists, while Scott scored 25 points. Amani Lyles added 12 points and two steals. Eric Mahaffey grabbed a game-high seven rebounds for the Zips.
Scott hit five 3-pointers, as the Zips shot 12-of-23 on 3s. They made eight of their 3s in the second half.
Akron guard Tavari Johnson, making a layup last season, scored a career-high 35 points Monday night.
Yale led 44-31 before Akron cut its deficit to 46-37 by halftime. Yale maintained its lead throughout the second half and was up 78-70 before Akron rallied. The Zips used a 10-2 run to tie the game 80-80 with 5:02 remaining.
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Yale's Trevor Mullin answered with a 3-pointer to reclaim the lead. Riley Fox followed with back-to-back 3s to push Yale ahead 89–84. The Zips hit a 3 to stay within striking distance. Nick Townsend added a layup and Yale's lead was 91–89 before Mullin went 6-for-6 from the foul line down the stretch to seal Yale's victory.
The Zips had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a 3-pointer rattled out and time expired as the Zips tried to collect the rebound.
Isaac Celiscar led Yale with 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and 7-of-7 from the foul line. He scored 12 of his points in the first half. Townsend finished with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with 10 assists and six rebounds.
Townsend was named the tournament MVP after averaging 22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists in Yale's three wins.
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The Zips scored 90-plus points in all three games during the tournament. They reached the title game with decisive wins over Iona (96-75) on Nov. 21 and Evansville (97-59) on Nov. 23.
Akron returns to home to host the Milwaukee Panthers 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29.
The Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Akron basketball score in Paradise Jam title game, Yale holds off Zips
