AKRON, Ohio ? Playing its second overtime game in consecutive days, the Ohio men?s basketball team fell to Akron 84-82 Sunday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Brandon Hunter led the Bobcats (9-14, 6-9 MAC) with a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds. His 19th double-double this season and 11th straight are both national bests.

Jaivon Harris added 18 points and eight boards for Ohio while Thomas Stephens, Jeff Halbert and Steve Esterkamp each chipped in with nine points. Halbert also provided a career-high 10 assists.

Darryl Peterson led the Zips (11-12, 6-8) with 28 points as all five Akron starters finished in double figures.

The Bobcats started out slow in the first half ? down by 18 points at one point ? and found themselves trailing by 13 at the break, 42-29.

In the second half, a 26-13 run by Ohio allowed it to draw even with the Zips and eventually knot the game at 74-74 at the end of regulation.

During the extra session, the teams played to five ties before Andy Hipsher put Akron ahead by two with six seconds remaining. Stephens then missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Zips shot 50.9 percent from the field and an even more impressive 52.2 percent from behind the three-point line in the victory.

The Bobcats lead the nation in overtime periods this season with 11. They are 0-3 when those contests have ended in the first extra session and 3-0 when they have gone two overtimes or more.

Ohio will play its fourth game in eight days Wednesday night against Virginia. The 7 p.m. game will mark the first visit to the Convocation Center by a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. For ticket information, please call the Ohio Athletics Ticket Office at 740-593-1300 or 1-800-575-CATS.

Postgame quotes from Ohio head coach Tim O?Shea:

?(on his team playing well despite little rest) I am tremendously proud of their effort tonight. I told them in the locker room after the game that there?s nothing I can criticize about what they did in the second half and the overtime. They played it right. Akron came up with some shots. We went for the three at the end because of the foul trouble. Steve (Esterkamp) had fouled out. Brandon (Hunter), (Jeff) Halbert and Thomas Stephens all were playing with four fouls. And at that point, I just thought our legs were going to give out if we went to a second overtime. Jaivon (Harris) did a great job on the play that we set up (in the final seconds), making a read and hitting Thomas. Thomas got a realistic shot off. It was a jump shot that almost went down. It was pretty much what we were looking for ? either he gets a three or we had Stephen King and Jeff Halbert positioned also for three-point shots. We certainly would have taken a two and tied it up if it was going to be easy but they had Brandon double-teamed. There was no way Brandon was going to see the basketball in that situation. All things considered, it was a great effort. Obviously, you?re never happy when you lose but you do have to recognize the effort the kids put forth tonight. Certainly we have a great opportunity on Wednesday night with an ACC team coming in to The Convo. Brandon, I thought, was as good as he?s ever played in terms of making his free throws, sharing the basketball and just being a leader. We got down 17 or 18 points early in the first half and he kept his composure. The team kept its composure to fight back from 11 down at halftime on the road and get into overtime again with very little preparation time. I?m very, very proud of my team tonight.

(on Hunter?s 30-point, 12-rebound performance) Well, I think the team did a great job. Jeff Halbert passes the ball so well. Jeff had 10 assists tonight and I?d say all 10 of them were probably to Brandon on those high-low passes. Part of Brandon?s comfort level out there and the fact he wasn?t demonstrating any of the frustration we?ve seen in the past is the fact that guys are really doing a great job of getting him the ball in positions where he can score and do things with it. Honestly, we?re very disappointed with the loss but we did everything that we could do to win the game. We played it right. We made our free throws. They (Akron) hit some tough shots. I thought (Darryl) Peterson?s three after we went up two to start the overtime was huge because that was a tough shot. It was deep in the corner. We were obviously in a zone because of our foul trouble. There was one clutch play after another. I?m very proud of my team. I just hope we can continue to play with this type of spirit and this type of determination the rest of the season. If we can, I?d like to believe this team is going to enjoy some success.

(on Stephens? solid play despite 1-of-9 shooting) That doesn?t tell the story. Thomas did a great job handling the basketball, defending (Johnny) Hollingsworth and finding people. The 1-for-9, most of his shots were what I would characterize as good shots. I think it?s difficult ? and I?m not whining about this ? but we didn?t have any time to prepare or shoot in this gym. We had to come, show up and play this evening so I think that?s one of the reasons we may have gotten off to a little bit of a slow start.

(on outrebounding Akron 35-31, including 18 offensive boards) Well, we emphasized that the guards have got to rebound on this team. They?re heeding the message. So many guys made plays. Just like yesterday in the double-overtime game (against Western Michigan), a lot of guys have to step up and make plays. Certainly we?re accustomed now to playing under pressure. I?ve got to believe that for our younger players ? Halbert, King, Jaivon, Stephens ? all these pressure games are just going to make them better players next season as well.

(on Wednesday?s game against Virginia) I just want the guys to play. I?m not even thinking about the pressure. We?re probably going to have to play on the road in the (first round of the MAC) Tournament. We may not if things break our way. Either way, I just like the fortitude this team is showing ? the determination to play 11 overtimes with a lot of adversity throughout the season between injuries, sickness and whatever ? and they?re still out there fighting. They?re determined. I hope people come out to The Convo Wednesday night, not only to see an ACC team which is a rarity in any MAC gym, but also to support our team. They maybe haven?t produced the stellar record that everybody had hoped for but I tell you what, they?re a determined group and they certainly have shown a lot of heart.?