Akron Zips Lose Third Straight, 65-61, to Miami

Akron Zips lose third straight, 65-61, to Miami http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=/2014/02...

Akron Zips lose third straight, 65-61, to Miami Plain Dealer staff By Plain Dealer staff on February 26, 2014 at 9:27 PM, updated February 26, 2014 at 10:06 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Akron Zips fell out of step with the conference leaders Wednesday night with a third straight loss, 65-61, to the Miami RedHawks on the road.

Akron (17-11, 9-6) returns home to finish the season with three straight in Rhodes Arena, beginning Saturday against Bowling Green, which is coming off a 71-66 home victory over Kent State.

Akron trailed most of the game, but did get within 62-61 with 1:06 to play. But the Zips failed to get a big rebound down the stretch, then missed a jumper to take the lead with four seconds to play. The RedHawks closed the game out with free throws.

Akron now falls three games behind the conference leaders, and is tied with Ohio University for the fourth and last bye in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament.

"We built this program on toughness,'' head coach Keith Dambrot said after the game. "Now we're going to find out if we have any."

While Demetrius Treadwell posted another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds, offensively it was a struggle for fellow senior Quincy Diggs, who only posted four points to go with 12 rebounds. Miami, which snapped a two-game slide, was led by Lutheran East High product Will Felder with 16 points.

The still short-handed Zips (18-10, 10-5) welcomed the return of senior forward Nick Harney from a four-game suspension, as he scored six points off the bench.

"He gave us a little, but he hasn't really practiced,'' Dambrot said. "We just have to regroup."

Akron was still without the services of sophomore sharp-shooters Reggie McAdams (mononucleosis) and Jake Kretzer (concussion).

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