ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Jimond Ivey scored 21 points with nine rebounds and Daniel Utomi scored 14 and Akron beat Ohio 65-53 on Saturday.
Akron sped to a 17-5 lead with Ivey and Utomi each making 3-pointers. Ohio got it going on offense and established an 11-4 run to draw within 21-16 with 5:09 before halftime.
The Zips led 30-22 at halftime, and early in the second half, Ivey buried a 3 and followed with a 3-point play to start an 18-8 run in which Utomi scored a layup and a pair of 3s. The Zips (13-8, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) led by double digits the rest of the way.
Loren Cristian Jackson added 12 points for the Zips, which owned a 41-32 rebounds advantage.
Jason Carter led Ohio (11-10, 3-6) with 18 points 10 rebounds and the Bobcats managed just 37.7 shooting (20 of 53).
Ohio U. box
AKRON 65, OHIO 53
AKRON (13-8)
Utomi 6-9 1-2 16, Riak 1-5 0-0 2, Cheese 3-6 1-2 7, Jackson 4-10 4-5 12, Ivey 7-16 2-2 19, Olojakpoke 1-2 0-0 2, Sayles 0-1 0-0 0, Roscoe 0-3 0-0 0, Banks 3-8 0-0 7. Totals 25-60 8-11 65.
OHIO (11-10)
Carter 7-14 3-6 18, Taylor 2-3 2-5 6, Cowart 2-6 0-0 5, Kirk 4-13 1-3 9, Block 2-4 0-0 6, Vander Plas 0-3 0-0 0, Murrell 0-3 0-0 0, James 1-2 0-0 3, Preston 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 20-53 8-16 53.
Halftime—Akron 30-22. 3-Point Goals—Akron 7-24 (Utomi 3-5, Ivey 3-9, Banks 1-4, Cheese 0-1, Riak 0-1, Jackson 0-2, Roscoe 0-2), Ohio 5-21 (Block 2-4, Carter 1-2, James 1-2, Cowart 1-3, Preston 0-1, Kirk 0-3, Vander Plas 0-3, Murrell 0-3). Fouled Out—Riak. Rebounds—Akron 39 (Ivey, Riak 9), Ohio 30 (Carter 10). Assists—Akron 11 (Jackson 5), Ohio 12 (Block, Kirk 3). Total Fouls—Akron 21, Ohio 12.