Sports
Instant Reaction: Akron Outlasts Ohio In OT, 88-81
< < Back to instant-reaction-akron-outlasts-ohio-ot-88-81Wednesday’s game versus No. 24 Akron marked the second time this season the two squads met, last time out Akron beat Ohio 86-72 in the James A. Rhodes Arena. It was a battle all night between two teams who refused to give up. Akron beat Ohio 88-81 in overtime to improve their winning streak to 19 games.
Zippy Start:
Akron point guard Alex Abreu drained a three in the opening seconds sparking a 7-0 run on a perfect 3-3 from the field run in the first 1:19. Ohio couldn’t make anything fall until Reggie Keely ended Akron’s run at nine with a tip three minutes into the half. Keely’s points sparked a change in the ‘Cats who went on a tear over the next 10 minutes outscoring Akron 26-4 in that span. Ohio entered halftime up 41-30.
Key Stats:
Despite the sluggish start, Ohio outperformed Akron in every facet in the first half. The ‘Cats shot 56 percent from the field for the half despite starting out hitting just 28 percent in the first four minutes.
Key Players
D.J. Cooper: Led Ohio with 10 points, two assists and three rebounds and two steals.
Demetrius Treadwell: Led the Zips with 10 points and three rebounds.
Second Half:
Ohio started off sloppy hitting on just 14 percent of its shots from the field in the first four minutes. Akron capitalized going on a 19-4 run to start the half. The Zips retook the lead at the 15:36 mark on a three-pointer by Jake Kretzer. Akron was playing more aggressive than Ohio, outrebounding the ‘Cats 10-4 in the first seven minutes. Ohio’s offense picked things back up midway through the second half.
Led by the fierce play of Walter Offut and Cooper’s three-spree, Ohio battled its way back into the game. With 3:55 left Akron led 66-65. Marshall fouled out late in the second half after fouling Keely on a layup. His presence was sorely missed by the Zips in the final seconds. Jon Smith was able to tip in a missed three by Offutt with 0.7 seconds on the clock and send the game into overtime at 72 all.
Overtime:
Akron scored the first two points on the half on a pair of made free throws by Kretzer after being fouled by Smith. Brian Walsh extended the Zips' lead to four a minute later. Ohio scored on a free throw by Keely to cut the lead to 76-73 but Treadwell extended the lead to six when he was fouled on a layup by Keely and converted the free throw. Akron led by as many as nine with just over a minute left in overtime. Ohio struggled to gel offensively in the final minutes and costly fouls led to easy points for Akron. It was too much for Ohio to overcome and they fell to the Zips 88-81 in overtime.
Key Players
Demetrius Treadwell: Led Akron with 21 points and seven rebounds.
D.J. Cooper: Led Ohio with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Coop Watch:
Cooper is on pace to become the only player in NCAA Division I history to finish with 2000 points, 900 assists, 500 rebounds and 300 steals for his career. He entered the game having already achieved the rebounds and steals marks and was just three assists and 42 points away from attaining the other two. He finished the game with 902 career assists and 1984 career points.
Next Up:
Ohio slips to 11-2 in the MAC with just three games left in the season. The Bobcats' next game is Saturday on the road at Bowling Green. Last time out Ohio beat Bowling Green 72-63.