Hurricanes storm past Zips, Akron falls to Miami (FL) 79-51
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Akron Zips Men’s Basketball fell to the University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes to the final score of 79-51.
Akron Center Pat Forsythe and Wing Jake Kretzer led the Zips in scoring with 11 apiece. Miami Guard Sheldon McClellan led the Hurricanes with 17 points.
“We just didn’t move the ball well enough.” Head Coach Keith Dambrot said after the game. “We kind of splintered, we got the ball down in, and could not score it.”
Akron will get the day off tomorrow as they prepare to face the loser of the Charlotte 49ers – South Carolina Gamecocks matchup in the third place game Sunday night at 6:30 p.m.
Akron opened up with a 5-0 run contributed by Guards Niles Evans and Noah Robotham. The Miami Hurricanes stopped the run with a three made by Gaurd Angel Rodriguez.
Akron would be down by two with eight minutes left in the 1st half, but Pat Forsythe would have the Zips next six points to battle the Hurricanes three points to have Akron regain the lead 24-21.
The 1st half would end in the Hurricanes favor, as Miami’s 58% field goal shooting in the 1st would lead them to a 35 – 30 advantage at halftime. Akron only shot 38% from the field, but was able to still be within 5.
However, the 2nd half would tell a different story.
Miami (FL) would open with a 13-3 run, bringing the score to 33-48 with 14:50 left in the 2nd half.
The Hurricane’s offensive surge would also translate to their defensive game, as Miami dominated on both ends of the floor in the 2nd half. A layup made by Miami Guard JaQuan Newton would seal the deal, as the game ended to the final score of 79-51 Miami.
Pat Forsythe started off well with eight points in the first half, but only finished with three more points in the 2nd half.
“He may have tired a little bit.” Coach Dambrot commented about Forsythe’s performance in the 2ndhalf. “He’s been a guy that plays 16-17 minutes a game, so this is the most that he has ever played.”
Akron would end up shooting only 33.3% from field goal range, and 38.9% from 3-point range.
Miami ended the night shooting 59.3% from the field, while shooting a key 47.1% from 3 point range, making 8-17 three point shots, with 4 of those coming in the 2nd half.
Akron’s next game will be on Sunday at 6:30 p.m, where they will have a chance to finish in third place in the Charleston Classic. The Zips will face the loser of Charlotte – South Carolina.