Akron Zips Roll Past Western Michigan, 65-43, to Open Mid-American Conference Play

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=... Akron Zips roll past Western Michigan, 65-43, to open Mid-American Conference play By Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer on January 09, 2013 at 8:51 PM, updated January 10, 2013 at 12:51 AM Print View/Post Comments AKRON, Ohio -- The Akron Zips were held well under their scoring average but still dispatched Western Michigan with ease, 65-43, Wednesday night in the opening game of Mid-American Conference play. A tight game at the half became a blowout inside the first six minutes of the second half. Before the Zips (10-4) were done, thanks to senior Brian Walsh scoring 10 of his 12 points in a 21-8 Akron run, the Broncos (8-6) were already reeling back to Kalamazoo, Mich. Enlarge Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer "They had five guys in the paint," Akron University of Akron's Alex Abreu is fouled by Western Michigan University's Austin Ritchie during the second half of their men's coach Keith Dambrot said of the Broncos. "I basketball game on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at Rhodes Arena in Akron. (Lonnie Timmons III / The Plain Dealer) just had that feeling we could ride [Walsh]. And he came through for us." Akron men's basketball hosts Western Michigan gallery (7 photos) Freshman Pat Forsythe came off the bench for Akron to score 12 points with eight rebounds, while Nick Harney led in scoring with 15. "We're a great shooting team," Walsh said. "We knew they would fall. Coach called my number to start the second half." Walsh curled off a screen and had a wide-open look to trigger a 56 percent shooting effort by the Zips in the second half. That included 6-of-12 on 3-pointers. Akron shot 29.4 percent from the field in the first half. 1 of 2 1/10/13 9:39 AM http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=... "We needed to get our outside shots going," the 6-5 Walsh said. "I needed to step into it and knock it down. We had missed a lot of easy ones around the hoop we normally make." The Zips, who entered averaging 78.0 points per game, have won six in a row -- three by 28 points or more and this one by 22. "We played our worst game of the year," Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said. "We were not ourselves tonight. We acted scared." Akron took a 25-19 halftime lead as the Zips failed to get a two-possession lead until 5:57 left in the half when a short jumper in the lane from Deji Ibitayo gave Akron an 18-14 advantage. The defenses for both teams were stellar the first 20 minutes as Akron's pressure, full-court attack forced nine turnovers and 28.0 percent shooting from the Broncos. Akron, however, had its troubles with the Broncos' 2-3 zone, as well as baseline double teams inside, while shooting 1-of-8 on 3-pointers. That changed when Walsh opened the second half with a clean 3-pointer to get Akron rolling for good. When 7-0 Zeke Marshall was saddled with foul trouble, the 6-11 Forsythe stepped forward. "We didn't miss a beat," Dambrot said. Walsh followed that with a jumper in the key, then a basket inside by Marshall and a 3-pointer from Harney for a 35-19 lead before the Broncos finally scored in the second half. Western Michigan never was closer than 14 points the rest of the way. "Coach told me to play hard and play physical," said Forsythe, a transfer from West Virginia. "We are starting to click; everything is starting to develop." Akron now goes on the road for three of its next four games, first at Northern Illinois, which defeated Miami (Ohio), 72-61, Wednesday. Sponsored Links View/Post Comments Related Stories Akron Zips, Ohio Bobcats are teams to beat: Mid-American Conference basketball preview Akron Zips get 17 points from Zeke Marshall in win over Princeton © cleveland.com. All rights reserved. 2 of 2 1/10/13 9:39 AM.

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