Akron men's basketball seniors talk after a win over Northern Illinois
Akron Zips men's basketball seniors Bowen Hardman, Tavari Johnson, Amani Lyles, Evan Mahaffey and Shammah Scott talk after win vs NIU, March, 6, 2026.
Video Transcript
Bowen, you guys extend your win streak to thirty-one games, senior night win, you win by forty-some points.
Just what do you think about how the team played tonight?
No, we, we definitely played very well tonight.
We played unselfish, you know, one heart, one mind, right?
That's one of the things Coach Burruss has emphasized to us and, we have so much talent on the floor, right?
It's, it's, it's one of the things where it could be anybody's night.
It could be mine, TJ's, Imani, Evan, Shamoz, you know, it was just a great night for us, right?
It's something that's gonna propel us going into Cleveland, and I think we, we compete at a high level.
For Tavari, just how were you guys able to separate from this team so quickly?
And obviously three-point shooting, but just from your vantage point, how did you guys separate and just put the hammer down on this team?
defense.
We started getting stops and, it was a domino effect.
One stop turned into two, two stops turned into three, and so forth and so on.
But our defense side allowed us to run the transition and score points, and obviously we stopped them and scored.
the gap's just gonna grow and grow.
For Imani, the-- with the win streak now at thirty-one games, you've tied Miami of Ohio and Duke.
Just what d- what do you think about that accomplishment for the program?
it's exciting.
You know, just to get those wins at the Jar, the fans are always great.
and yeah, it's an accomplishment many teams or programs can't say they've done, so And then coming down the line, Evan and Shamoz, being senior night, just what are your memories of-- For s-- for Evan, this is one year in the program, but just what's it been like to be a Zip?
it's been awesome.
I think, we were talking about a little bit like you gotta kind of like live in the moment, but you gotta get ready to play a game.
So, not trying to dwell on it too much, but now that it's a- it's over, it's just like every second here I've loved it.
Being around these guys, loved it.
the coaching staff and their, their support constantly throughout the year.
Like, this program's just special.
Like, there's not too much more to say.
It's just a special area.
What's it been like to be a Zip?
Yeah, just be a Zip and just to get this win streak and win on senior night, yeah.
It's been a great experience.
Like, this been the best few years of basketball in my life.
Like, group of guys that I've been with, going back to Enrique, Greg, Ali, and now with I-- Imani, Evan, TJ, Bowen, and the rest of the guys.
Like, it's just been a great experience and, like, I'll forever remember this.
