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Back from Achilles injury, Mikal Dawson brings toughness, 3s to Akron Zips men's basketball
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- Back from Achilles injury, Mikal Dawson brings toughness, 3s to Akron Zips men's basketball
University of Akron men's basketball player Mikal Dawson is "100%" healthy and the Zips know they are a better team with him available.
Dawson is enjoying being back on the court this season after missing last season because of a torn Achilles tendon.
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The 6-foot-5 senior made 3 of 5 three-point shots and finished with nine points and two steals Friday night to help host Akron earn a 83-67 win over Bowling Green at Rhodes Arena.
Dawson said he is "ready to knock a 3 down whenever my teammates pass me the ball."
Akron Zips guard Mikal Dawson (22) shoots a 3-pointer over Bowling Green guard Da'Shawn Phillip (5) during the first half, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
"What he battled through with the Achilles to get to where he is at right now, what a credit certainly to Akron Children's Hospital and the work that they did with Mikal as well as Cortney Myer, the physical therapist, all of the doctors and our trainer Conor Marlatt," Akron coach John Groce said on Oct. 24.
"Those people did an amazing job. This is my second time that I have had a player in my 30 years as an assistant, associate head coach and head coach that has had a torn Achilles. It is a very rare injury. You see ankles, knees, shoulders and hips, but not Achilles. Those are usually for guys who look like me in their 50s.
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"It is a tough deal and he has come back so well mentally and physically. The way he moves and how he quickly he came back, credit to him and all of his work and effort, and to all of those people that were involved that I just mentioned. The first go around I had, unfortunately wasn't quite as smooth. We had a lot of hiccups and setbacks and different things we were working through. That was kind of my gage or my bar for this."
Groce said Dr. John Polousky did "a phenomenal job on the surgery," and also praised UA men's basketball strength and conditioning coach Jovon Shaw for his work with Dawson.
Then there is Dawson, a starter on Akron's 2021-22 team that beat Kent State in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship and almost knocked off UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
Dawson started this season hot from beyond the 3-point arc as Akron won its first four games. He made 4-of-8 3s and scored 19 points in a win over South Dakota State, made 2-of-9 3s and scored eight points in a victory over Southern Mississippi, made 7-of-10 3s and scored 25 points in a win over Heidelberg and made 3-of-8 3s and scored nine points in a victory over Florida International.
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"Mikal Dawson is so tough physically," Groce said. "He is in the top 10% of guys I have coached in terms of physical toughness, putting his body in play and his physicality and force when he is really on his 'A' game. We missed that last year. That was a big part of our run two years ago at the end was his physical disposition.
"I am excited that he is on pace to graduate at the end of the spring and have his degree. ... He is a very good shooter, very good screener, knows our defense, knows our system and knows our culture. He has good work capacity and work ethic."
Dawson said he is "happy to be back" and describes himself as "an energy guy on the team" who was "kind of nervous" before the South Dakota State game.
"I felt like I could miss a step or I was not going to be the same player that I was two years ago when we won the MAC championship," Dawson said. "Now, I feel good. I feel great."
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He is more vocal and has stepped into a larger leadership role with the Zips senior starters Enrique Freeman, Greg Tribble, Sammy Hunter and Ali Ali.
"Mike is incredible," Freeman said on Nov. 10 after a 72-54 victory over Southern Mississippi. "For someone who was stripped away from playing basketball, and to come back and not even look like you were away, I think that is amazing. Mike is a great teammate and a great brother. I am just really happy for him.
"Mike is a Rough Rider. Mike is a Rough Rider. He is a rough guy. He is scrappy. I love Mike and the energy that he brings to the team. Shoot, that one offensive rebound he got during South Dakota State changed the game."
Freeman added Friday that Dawson "didn't look like he tore anything going into the summer."
Akron Zips forward Enrique Freeman (25) dunks the ball against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first half on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
Akron compiles 21-1 run to win basketball game against Bowling Green
Bowling Green (10-4, 1-1) led Akron 41-36 at halftime and 51-43 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the second half.
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Akron (10-4, 2-0) responded with a 21-1 run to lead 64-52 with 6:47 left to go. Freeman made five free throws and threw down a two-hand slam dunk during the spurt. Dawson and senior Kaleb Thornton each made a 3, Tribble dropped in two layups and Ali and junior Shammah Scott both made a two-point shot.
"In the first half, we didn't play to our own standards," said the 6-7 Freeman. "We made too many defensive mistakes and they are a very good offensive team. Going into the second half, we took pride in getting stops.
"... A 21-1 run, that is us playing hard, playing to our standard and getting stops on defense."
Akron Zips forward Enrique Freeman (25) dunks over Bowling Green guard DaJion Humphrey (3) during the second half, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
Freeman posted his 12th double-double this season with 24 points and 11 rebounds, both game-highs. He made 6-of-14 shots from the field and 12-of-13 free throws, and had four assists and three blocks.
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Freeman surpassed Mike Harkins, Bob Smith, Alex Adams and Don Williams on Friday to move into the ninth spot for career points at Akron with 1,448 points in 111 games. The top eight on the list are Joe Jakubick, Len Paul, Eric McLaughlin, John Britton, Bill Turner, Loren Cristian Jackson, Jimmal Ball and Romeo Travis.
"These guys [teammates] believe in me," Freeman said. "They have believed in me since I got here in that [walk-on] tryout [in 2019]."
Groce loved what he saw from Freeman, Scott, Thornton, Tribble, Dawson and Ali.
Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble shoots over Bowling Green guard PJ Edwards during the first half, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
Akron made 50% of its shots from the field (28-of-56) with Tribble making 7-of-8 for 16 points and three assists.
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Scott contributed 10 points, four assists and three steals. Ali had nine points and four assists, Hunter had seven points and six rebounds and Thornton added four points, five rebounds and five assists.
Bowling Green had four players in double figures: 6-4 junior Marcus Hill (19 points), 7-0 senior Jason Spurgin (14 points), 6-8 senior Rashaun Agee (12 points) and 6-0 senior Trey Thomas (12 points).
"I thought Dawson's physicality, his aggressiveness, his energy and his shot-making in the first half allowed us to close the gap," Groce said.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
Akron Zips guard Ali Ali stares down Bowling Green guard Trey Thomas during the first half, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mikal Dawson brings toughness to Akron Zips men's basketball
