Akron Outlasts Kent State in Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship
The Akron Zips became Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions last night when they were able to hang on and win the Mid-American Conference Tournament as they defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes 62-61 in the Cleveland Cavaliers very own Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. This conference championship was a much closer rematch of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship from 2022 when the Zips defeated the Golden Flashes 75-55. Let’s take a look at how the Zips won the Mid-American Conference Championship!
It was easy to tell watching this game that not only were these two teams two of the best in their conference, but they were very evenly matched. Kent State’s seven-point lead in the first half was the largest lead by either side in the first twenty minutes of play in this one however it was the Zips who went into the locker room with the lead as they were up 34-29 on the Golden Flashes. Coming out of the half it would be more evenly matched gameplay from both sides as halfway through the second half Kent State had regained the lead 50-46. This game would all come down to the final second as, while the Golden Flashes for a moment seemed like they were going to win this one, an unfortunate foul call did not go Kent State’s way. Akron senior guard Greg Tribble went to the line and knocked down two free throws with five seconds remaining in regulation to bring home the trophy in this one for the Zips. Senior guard Ali Ali and forward Enrique Freeman led Akron with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
As the Zips head into the 2024 NCAA tournament, they will most likely be a fourteen-seed and be faced up against a tough three-seed opponent. While this will no doubt be a tough game the Zips have played a great season with their current record of 24-10 overall and 13-5 in conference play. This will be the sixth time in school history Akron has headed to the NCAA tournament in school history and they are hopeful that they will be able to bring home a victory this year as they are 0-5 (lost in the NCAA tournament first rounds in 1986, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2022) in their school history in March Madness. Will Akron bring home a win to Ohio this year in the NCAA tournament?
