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'Everybody can score': Akron men's basketball rises to top of MAC with talented shooters
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- 'Everybody can score': Akron men's basketball rises to top of MAC with talented shooters
University of Akron men's basketball coach John Groce is pleased with where his team is, but not content.
Groce smiled Saturday afternoon after Akron dominated Miami University 102-75 in front of 2,834 fans at Rhodes Arena.
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In a span of 11 days, the Mid-American Conference-leading Zips (14-5, 7-0) gave Toledo (11-8, 5-2), Ohio (11-8, 5-2) and Miami (14-5, 6-1) their first conference losses. Akron beat Toledo 85-78 and Ohio 92-80 .
Akron Zips coach John Groce talks with Seth Wilson during a game against Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron.
"There are 18 rounds of the MAC regular-season boxing match, and that was Round 7," Groce said Saturday. "They all count the same. We gotta make sure that we are ready to go on Tuesday [at 8 p.m. at Northern Illinois]. ... We are trending in the right direction."
Akron is 7-0 in the MAC for the second time under Groce, joining the 2023-2024 team. The Zips were 7-0 in the MAC twice under former coach Keith Dambrot, starting the 2012-2013 season with a 13-0 league record and the 2016-2017 season with a 9-0 league mark.
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"It felt good that we got to play for first place, and not only for first place but to also break an undefeated record in the JAR with our Zips fans," Akron redshirt junior Nate Johnson said Saturday.
Akron guard Nate Johnson looks to make a move against Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Accurate 3-point shooting propels Akron to top of MAC men's basketball standings
Akron blitzed Miami in the first half and led 52-28 at halftime on the strength of 20-of-35 shooting from the field, including 10 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc.
"Obviously, I thought the first half was the best we have played all year," Groce said. "Defensively and offensively, I thought we were really clicking. We have got good shooters and we made them at a really high level. I thought in the second half our offense continued to play well, and defensively I thought we were putrid. Give Miami credit for continuing to battle.
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"... I thought our crowd was incredible. I thought the fans really played a big part."
Groce said the Zips were "exceptional" in the first 14 minutes and 24 seconds of the game, making 16 of 25 shots from the field, including 10 of 15 from deep, to build a 44-19 lead.
Akron's Nate Johnson puts up a shot over Toledo's Sam Lewis on Jan. 14, 2015, in Akron.
"We are playing at home," Johnson said. "We are used to these rims. We all put the work in. Coach emphasizes us shooting a lot of 3s."
Johnson , senior Seth Wilson , junior Bowen Hardman and freshman Sharron Young each made two 3-pointers in the opening 15 minutes. Junior Tavari Johnson and senior Shammah Scott each made one 3.
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"That is how we want to play — fast and where everybody can score," Nate Johnson said. "You can't really key in on one guy because you never know whose night it is going to be. Today was basically a showing of that. We all are unselfish."
Miami coach Travis Steele, Groce's half brother, called four timeouts in the first 14:24 to try to slow down Akron.
Akron guard Sharron Young shoots against Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Akron.
"We didn't show up to be quite frank," Steele said. "Give them credit. They played well. We didn't show up. It is embarrassing. They shot it really well. Our intensity on the defensive end was horrendous. Soft. Fat cats who can't handle success.
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"... We gotta get better. We gotta get back to the drawing board, competing and being more physical. We were soft as cotton."
Akron opened the second half with a 16-3 run to lead 68-31 with 16:29 remaining. The surge featured two 3-pointers by Wilson, and Nate Johnson and junior Amani Lyles each had a two-hand slam dunk.
"You see guys come in the gym before practice and staying after, getting up shots," Wilson said. "We get a lot of reps and today all of those reps paid off."
Akron guard Tavari Johnson drives past Northern Kentucky guard Trey Robinson on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Akron.
Tavari Johnson, Nate Johnson and Seth Wilson guide Akron men's basketball
Tavari Johnson said the mindset is to "attack and be aggressive" after he had 15 points and six assists against Miami.
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"Coach installs confidence in us to shoot 3s and make them," Tavari Johnson said. "That is what we do. We step up and we expect to make them.
"... It is always fun playing at home against good teams in front of the fans. They help us and give us a huge advantage at home. It is always good to be able to play good teams at the crib."
Wilson contributed 14 points and two assists. Nate Johnson totaled 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Akron's Seth Wilson puts up a 3-point shot as Toledo's Javan Simmons defends on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron.
"It is fun when you know that the guy that you are playing with is probably going to hit a trey-ball or do something to help us win," Wilson said. "I think that makes us special and adds a lot of versatility to us."
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Akron senior Isaiah Gray had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Hardman scored 12 points. Lyles totaled 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Scott had eight points, nine rebounds and four assists. Young scored seven points.
"We need to keep working, stay humble and keep at it because we gotta go in night in and night out and make sure we play as hard as we can," Wilson said.
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: Akron is undefeated in Mid-American Conference men's basketball games
