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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (16-12, 10-5 MAC) returned to action on Tuesday evening (Feb. 27), with an exciting come-from-behind win against the Akron Zips (20-8, 12-3 MAC), 74-67 inside the Convocation Center. With the win over the top team in the conference and a Central Michigan loss, the Bobcats climbed to third in the conference the best standing the Bobcats have had this season.
Overall, Ohio shot 45.5 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from three and were 17-of-20 from the line, while Akron shot 47.3 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three and went 9-of-15 from the line. Akron outrebounded Ohio 34-32. The Bobcats also forced twelve turnovers, scoring 14 points off them while committing just six of their own.
Individually, Ohio was led by senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) with 23 points, six assists and two steals. Junior forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) with 17 points, four rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) assisted with 11 points and six rebounds. Graduate student Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) added 10 points, four rebounds and one steal. Fifth year senior Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) added nine points, four assists and two steals.
Akron won the tip and got on the board first with a quick layup inside, but Ohio quickly responded on the other end with a driving layup by Clayton. Ohio played aggressive defensively with a block by Clayton and forced a shot clock violation from the Zips. Mitchell started strong offensively for Ohio going 2-of-2 at the stripe and scored a crafty driving layup assisted by Hunter. Hunter sank a three-point jumper followed by a layup by Brown to extend the Bobcat lead to seven points.
Akron began to crawl back into the game with back-to-back layups to close the gap for Ohio. The Bobcats would lead by three going into the second media timeout of the game. Out of the timeout, Akron drew a foul on a layup for a three-point play to tie the score.
The Bobcats and Zips would trade baskets to keep the score tied. A three-point jumper by Hunter and a driving layup by sophomore guard Elmore James (Cleveland, Ohio) off a Zip turnover would give Ohio the lead once more. Another three-point jumper made by Clayton forced Akron to call a timeout. The would respond by tying the score, but Clayton would add two points for the Bobcats with a jumper. Ohio and Akron traded baskets to keep the score gap within one point. Ohio found itself in foul trouble and gave Akron the advantage to take a five-point lead. James went 2-of-2 at the stripe to close the score deficit, but Akron would sink a half-court shot to close the half. Akron led 35-29 at the end of the half.
At the half, Ohio was led by Hunter with eight points, two assists and one steal. Clayton added seven points and two blocks. James, Mitchell and Brown each added four points. Brown had two additional steals. Entering tonight's game, the Zips were 15-0 while leading at the halftime break.
Ohio and Akron played aggressively on defense to keep each other off the board. Neither team scored for the first two minutes of the half, but Akron broke the scoreless streak with a second-chance layup. Clayton went 1-of-2 at the stripe giving Ohio its first points of the half. Hunter hit a three-point jumper to close the deficit to four points.
Akron would extend their lead to nine, but Clayton would make a three-point jumper off a fast break to keep the score close.With 11 minutes left, Hunter drew the foul and completed the a three-point play. Hunter would go back-to-back in scoring with a second-chance layup and an electric three-point jumper off a fast break to tie the score and force Akron to call a timeout.
The Bobcats and Zips would trade three-point jumpers to keep the score tied. Ohio also began to find itself in foul trouble with eight minutes remaining, sending Akron to the stripe. Akron missed the foul shot and neither team would score for almost two minutes of play. The Zips would break the scoreless streak going 1-of-2 at the free throw line and gaining a one-point lead.
Hadaway would go back-to-back in scoring with a dunk and a driving layup followed by a thrilling alley-oop from Hunter to Clayton, forcing Akron to call its final timeout of the game. Akron crawled back in scoring, but Ohio was determined to keep Akron off the board with a steal by Clayton. Brown would go 2-of-2 at the stripe with the double bonus.
Ohio would use a defensive press against Akron with one minute left in the game determined to stop the team from scoring. Akron would draw a foul for an attempt at the line for a double bonus, but would only go 1-of-2. Mitchell drew a foul on Akron's end of the court, allowing him to have the advantage to make both shots at the free-throw line.
Ohio ended the game with Hadaway going 1-of-2 at the stripe, giving Ohio the win against Akron 74-67. Tonight's game marked Akron's first loss of the season while leading at the half.
Up next, Ohio will remain in the Convocation Center to take on the Bowling Green Falcons for Senior Day on Friday, March 1. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on CBSSN.
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