At one point during the second half of the University of Akron men’s basketball team’s Friday game, the Zips looked as if they were going to allow one to slip away. They held on for a 92-87 Mid-American Conference win over Central Michigan at Rhodes Arena.
The Zips took a 12-point lead into the locker room and shot 55 percent in the first half. At that pace, they were assured victory.
Six minutes into the second half, they trailed the 53-52 and the situation fell into the category known as “iffy.”
Instead of folding completely, the Zips (19-4, 8-2 in Mid-American Conference) regrouped and found ingredients that made them so successful in the first half.
Courtesy of sparks from freshman guard Josh Williams, who led all scorers with 22 points and added five rebounds, and senior forward Reggie McAdams (14 points), the Zips used a 22-1 run to beat back the Chippewas (13-10, 6-4 in MAC) and run away with the game in the second half.
UA coach Keith Dambrot complimented Williams, who has picked up his production in recent games.
“His play has been terrific at both ends of the floor,” Dambrot said. “He’s improved.”
Williams said the difference has been extra work and improved confidence.
UA made six 3-pointers as part of the run.
“I think both teams are similar in that we have the kind of firepower to make those runs,” Central Michigan coach Keno Davis said.
That doesn’t mean it was easy the rest of the way. The Chippewas made the Zips work to maintain the lead. Central Michigan slowly chipped away with their own defense and clutch shooting to claw back into the game.
The Chippewas outscored the Zips 27-18 from the 8:24 mark on but the Zips were able to hold on for the win.
A sterling first-half effort from UA guard Antino Jackson provided the Chippewas and Davis with a dilemma. Jackson’s 14 first-half points made him someone the Chippewas had to keep in check.
“They don’t just have one guy who can have a big night on you,” Davis said. “They have six, seven or eight and Jackson is certainly one of them.”
The Chippewas opened the game with a 12-2 lead in the first three minutes before Jackson went to work. Jackson helped the Zips outscore the Chippewas 45-23 the rest of the half.
The slow start wasn’t a case of the Zips playing flat as much as playing tight. The Zips wanted the game. It showed in the intensity they displayed after the slow start.
They clamped down on defense and their outside shooting begin to click for a stretch when they seemingly could not miss. Jackson, who finished with 19 points, made four consecutive 3-pointers to add to three 3-pointers from Williams in the first half.
The defensive effort was there from start to finish. In the teams’ first meeting of the season, the Chippewas owned the paint, scoring more than 40 points at the rim. Central Michigan was limited to 12 points in the paint in the first half.
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Zips blog at www.ohio.com/zips. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeorgeThomasABJ.