AKRON

CMICH

Preview not available

Nate Johnson scores 18 to help Akron edge Central Michigan 85-82 for 13th straight victory

AP
Feb 15, 2025

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) Nate Johnson scored 18 points to help Akron fend off Central Michigan 85-82 on Saturday night, upping the Zips' win streak to 13.

Johnson also had seven rebounds and three steals for the Zips (20-5, 12-0 Mid-American Conference). Amani Lyles added 14 points and Shammah Scott scored 13.

Ugnius Jarusevicius led the way for the Chippewas (11-14, 4-8) with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Jarusevicius scored a career-high 32 his last time out in a 91-83 loss to Kent State. Anthony Pritchard added 15 points, six assists and two steals. Jakobi Heady finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Johnson scored 13 points in the first half and Akron went into halftime trailing 36-33. Akron used a 7-0 run in the second half to build a nine-point lead at 60-51 with 10:25 remaining before finishing off the win.

---

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
AKRON
Zips
33
CMU
Chippewas
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		James Okonkwo vs. Ugnius Jarusevicius (Anthony Pritchard gains possession)
19:39		Bryan Ndjonga turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Gray steals)
19:32		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:30		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
19:17		Kyler VanderJagt turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Gray steals)
18:54		Nate Johnson misses two point jump shot
18:52		James Okonkwo offensive rebound
18:44	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point layup	2-0
18:23		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point layup
18:21		Ugnius Jarusevicius personal foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
17:54		Isaiah Gray misses two point layup
17:52		Bryan Ndjonga defensive rebound
17:38		James Okonkwo personal foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
17:33	+3	Cayden Vasko makes three point jump shot (Anthony Pritchard assists)	2-3
17:24		Cayden Vasko personal foul (Isaiah Gray draws the foul)
17:19		Ugnius Jarusevicius blocks Tavari Johnson's two point layup
17:17		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
17:13		Jakobi Heady misses three point jump shot
17:11		Bryan Ndjonga offensive rebound
17:06	+3	Anthony Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Cayden Vasko assists)	2-6
16:54	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point jump shot	4-6
16:39		Bryan Ndjonga misses three point jump shot
16:37		Amani Lyles defensive rebound
16:25		Amani Lyles misses two point jump shot
16:23		Anthony Pritchard defensive rebound
16:06	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point layup	4-8
16:06		Isaiah Gray shooting foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
16:06	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 1	4-9
15:50		Tavari Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Pritchard steals)
15:44		Cayden Vasko misses three point jump shot
15:42		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
15:39		Nate Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Quentin Heady steals)
15:38		Seth Wilson personal foul
15:38		TV timeout
15:31		Bryan Ndjonga turnover (lost ball) (Sharron Young steals)
15:21		Bryan Ndjonga shooting foul (Sharron Young draws the foul)
15:21		Sharron Young misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:21	+1	Sharron Young makes regular free throw 2 of 2	5-9
15:08		Anthony Pritchard offensive foul (Shammah Scott draws the foul)
15:08		Anthony Pritchard turnover (offensive foul)
14:48	+2	Amani Lyles makes two point layup	7-9
14:35		Amani Lyles blocks Anthony Pritchard's two point layup
14:33		Sharron Young defensive rebound
14:25	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point jump shot	9-9
13:59		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
13:57		Shammah Scott defensive rebound
13:51		Sharron Young misses three point jump shot
13:49		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
13:40	+2	Jakobi Heady makes two point layup (Cayden Vasko assists)	9-11
13:27		Amani Lyles misses three point jump shot
13:25		Kyler VanderJagt defensive rebound
13:17		Cayden Vasko turnover (bad pass) (Nate Johnson steals)
13:04		Amani Lyles misses two point layup
13:02		Sharron Young offensive rebound
12:57	+3	Nate Johnson makes three point jump shot (Sharron Young assists)	12-11
12:34		Anthony Pritchard misses two point jump shot
12:32		Ugnius Jarusevicius offensive rebound
12:29	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point tip layup	12-13
12:16		Nate Johnson misses two point jump shot
12:14		Chippewas defensive rebound
12:00		Anthony Pritchard misses two point jump shot
11:58		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
11:51	+2	Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes two point layup (Isaiah Gray assists)	14-13
11:22		Jakobi Heady misses two point layup
11:20		Jakobi Heady offensive rebound
11:15		Jakobi Heady misses two point jump shot
11:13		James Okonkwo defensive rebound
11:01		Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
10:59		Isaiah Gray offensive rebound
10:57		Isaiah Gray turnover (traveling)
10:57		TV timeout
10:52		Isaiah Gray personal foul (Kyler VanderJagt draws the foul)
10:48		Cayden Vasko misses three point jump shot
10:46		Tavari Johnson defensive rebound
10:28	+2	James Okonkwo makes two point layup (Shammah Scott assists)	16-13
9:58		Kyler VanderJagt turnover (lost ball) (Marvin Musiime-Kamali steals)
9:53		Anthony Pritchard personal foul (Marvin Musiime-Kamali draws the foul)
9:53		Nate Johnson offensive foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
9:53		Nate Johnson turnover (offensive foul)
9:40		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
9:38		Bryan Ndjonga personal foul (Seth Wilson draws the foul)
9:22		Tavari Johnson misses two point jump shot
9:20		Bryan Ndjonga defensive rebound
9:14		Jakobi Heady misses three point jump shot
9:12		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
9:04		James Okonkwo misses two point layup
9:02		Cayden Vasko defensive rebound
8:49	+3	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes three point jump shot (Anthony Pritchard assists)	16-16
8:45		Zips 30 second timeout
8:27	+3	Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)	19-16
7:57		Amani Lyles personal foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
7:57		TV timeout
7:45	+2	Jakobi Heady makes two point layup (Anthony Pritchard assists)	19-18
7:28	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point layup (Tavari Johnson assists)	21-18
7:02	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point layup (Anthony Pritchard assists)	21-20
6:48		Bowen Hardman misses three point jump shot
6:46		Jakobi Heady defensive rebound
6:35		Jakobi Heady misses two point jump shot
6:33		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
6:27	+2	Amani Lyles makes two point layup (Nate Johnson assists)	23-20
6:13		Jakobi Heady misses two point layup
6:11		Jakobi Heady offensive rebound
6:11		Jakobi Heady misses two point layup
6:09		Jakobi Heady offensive rebound
6:09		Jakobi Heady misses two point layup
6:04		Cayden Vasko offensive rebound
6:04		Cayden Vasko misses two point layup
6:03		Seth Wilson defensive rebound
5:59		Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
5:57		Cayden Vasko defensive rebound
5:34	+3	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes three point jump shot (Anthony Pritchard assists)	23-23
5:11	+2	Tavari Johnson makes two point jump shot (Nate Johnson assists)	25-23
4:51		Tavari Johnson shooting foul (Anthony Pritchard draws the foul)
4:51	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-24
4:51	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-25
4:40		Sharron Young turnover (bad pass) (Bryan Ndjonga steals)
4:31		Kyler VanderJagt turnover (lost ball) (Nate Johnson steals)
4:26	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point layup (Isaiah Gray assists)	27-25
3:56		Cayden Vasko misses three point jump shot
3:54		Cayden Vasko offensive rebound
3:47		Kyler VanderJagt misses three point jump shot
3:45		Shammah Scott defensive rebound
3:32	+2	Sharron Young makes two point layup (Isaiah Gray assists)	29-25
3:31		Chippewas 30 second timeout
3:31		TV timeout
3:12		Jump ball. Kyler VanderJagt vs. James Okonkwo (James Okonkwo gains possession)
3:12		Kyler VanderJagt turnover (lost ball) (James Okonkwo steals)
2:54		Isaiah Gray misses two point layup
2:52		James Okonkwo offensive rebound
2:49	+2	James Okonkwo makes two point putback layup	31-25
2:42		Bryan Ndjonga turnover (traveling)
2:30		Nate Johnson misses two point jump shot
2:28		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
2:23		Jakobi Heady offensive foul (Sharron Young draws the foul)
2:23		Jakobi Heady turnover (offensive foul)
2:06		Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
2:04		Nate Johnson offensive rebound
2:01		Nate Johnson misses two point layup
1:59		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
1:40	+2	Kyler VanderJagt makes two point jump shot (Ugnius Jarusevicius assists)	31-27
1:40		Sharron Young personal foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
1:40	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-28
1:40	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-29
1:19		Jump ball. Nate Johnson vs. Bryan Ndjonga (Bryan Ndjonga gains possession)
1:19		Nate Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Bryan Ndjonga steals)
1:12	+2	Anthony Pritchard makes two point layup	31-31
0:52		Nate Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Pritchard steals)
0:47	+2	Anthony Pritchard makes two point layup	31-33
0:29	+2	Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes two point layup (Shammah Scott assists)	33-33
0:03	+3	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes three point jump shot (Anthony Pritchard assists)	33-36
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
AKRON
Zips
52
CMU
Chippewas
46

Time		Play	Score
19:45		Isaiah Gray misses three point jump shot
19:43		Seth Wilson offensive rebound
19:40	+2	Seth Wilson makes two point layup	35-36
19:25		Anthony Pritchard misses two point jump shot
19:23		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
18:58	+2	Isaiah Gray makes two point jump shot (Seth Wilson assists)	37-36
18:51		Anthony Pritchard turnover (lost ball) (Seth Wilson steals)
18:46		Kyler VanderJagt shooting foul (Isaiah Gray draws the foul)
18:46		Isaiah Gray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:46	+1	Isaiah Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-36
18:27		Anthony Pritchard misses three point jump shot
18:25		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
18:01		Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:59		Jakobi Heady defensive rebound
17:46		Kyler VanderJagt misses three point jump shot
17:44		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
17:31		Cayden Vasko personal foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
17:26	+2	Isaiah Gray makes two point layup (James Okonkwo assists)	40-36
17:03	+2	Kyler VanderJagt makes two point jump shot	40-38
16:56	+2	James Okonkwo makes two point dunk (Isaiah Gray assists)	42-38
16:42		Anthony Pritchard turnover (bad pass) (James Okonkwo steals)
16:35	+2	Shammah Scott makes two point layup (Isaiah Gray assists)	44-38
16:17		Cayden Vasko offensive foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
16:17		Cayden Vasko turnover (offensive foul)
16:09		Tavari Johnson misses two point jump shot
16:07		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
15:53		Jakobi Heady misses two point jump shot
15:51		Jakobi Heady offensive rebound
15:49	+2	Jakobi Heady makes two point tip layup	44-40
15:40	+3	Shammah Scott makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)	47-40
15:11		Tavari Johnson personal foul (Cayden Vasko draws the foul)
15:11		TV timeout
15:10		Seth Wilson shooting foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
15:10	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-41
15:10		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:10		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
15:04		Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
15:02		Anthony Pritchard defensive rebound
14:52	+2	Kyler VanderJagt makes two point hook shot	47-43
14:40		Amani Lyles misses three point jump shot
14:38		Kyler VanderJagt defensive rebound
14:22		Cayden Vasko misses three point jump shot
14:20		Jakobi Heady offensive rebound
14:18		Sharron Young personal foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
14:02	+2	Kyler VanderJagt makes two point jump shot	47-45
13:49	+3	Shammah Scott makes three point jump shot	50-45
13:31		Sharron Young personal foul (Anthony Pritchard draws the foul)
13:26	+2	Anthony Pritchard makes two point layup (Kyler VanderJagt assists)	50-47
13:10		Isaiah Gray misses two point jump shot
13:08		Cayden Vasko defensive rebound
13:01		James Okonkwo shooting foul (Anthony Pritchard draws the foul)
13:01	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-48
13:01	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-49
12:52		Cayden Vasko personal foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
12:50	+3	Bowen Hardman makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)	53-49
12:36		James Okonkwo shooting foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
12:36	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-50
12:36	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-51
12:17		Ugnius Jarusevicius shooting foul (Amani Lyles draws the foul)
12:17	+1	Amani Lyles makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-51
12:17	+1	Amani Lyles makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-51
12:05		Anthony Pritchard turnover (bad pass) (Tavari Johnson steals)
12:00		Kyler VanderJagt personal foul (Isaiah Gray draws the foul)
12:00		TV timeout
11:54	+2	Isaiah Gray makes two point dunk	57-51
11:44		Anthony Pritchard misses two point layup
11:42		Amani Lyles defensive rebound
11:23		Amani Lyles turnover (lost ball) (Ugnius Jarusevicius steals)
11:15		Bowen Hardman blocks Kyler VanderJagt's two point layup
11:13		Bowen Hardman defensive rebound
11:04		Anthony Pritchard personal foul (Amani Lyles draws the foul)
11:04	+1	Amani Lyles makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-51
11:04	+1	Amani Lyles makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-51
10:35		Jakobi Heady misses two point jump shot
10:33		Amani Lyles defensive rebound
10:25		Anthony Pritchard shooting foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
10:25	+1	Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	60-51
10:25		Shammah Scott turnover (lane violation)
10:11	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point layup	60-53
9:44	+2	Amani Lyles makes two point hook shot	62-53
9:23		Ugnius Jarusevicius turnover (bad pass) (Tavari Johnson steals)
9:18	+2	Shammah Scott makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tavari Johnson assists)	64-53
9:18		Chippewas 30 second timeout
9:18		TV timeout
8:55	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point layup (Cayden Vasko assists)	64-55
8:55		James Okonkwo shooting foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 1	64-56
8:43		Amani Lyles turnover (bad pass)
8:36		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point layup
8:34		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
8:15		Ugnius Jarusevicius shooting foul (Isaiah Gray draws the foul)
8:15	+1	Isaiah Gray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-56
8:15	+1	Isaiah Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-56
7:59		Marvin Musiime-Kamali personal foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
7:59		TV timeout
7:59	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-57
7:59	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-58
7:46		Sharron Young turnover (bad pass)
7:21		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point layup
7:19		Ugnius Jarusevicius offensive rebound
7:16	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point layup	66-60
7:06		Sharron Young misses two point layup
7:04		James Okonkwo offensive rebound
7:00	+2	James Okonkwo makes two point hook shot (Isaiah Gray assists)	68-60
6:40		Nate Johnson personal foul (Anthony Pritchard draws the foul)
6:40	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-61
6:40	+1	Anthony Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-62
6:23	+2	James Okonkwo makes two point layup (Shammah Scott assists)	70-62
6:10		James Okonkwo personal foul (Cayden Vasko draws the foul)
6:10	+1	Cayden Vasko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-63
6:10	+1	Cayden Vasko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-64
5:57		Tavari Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Cayden Vasko steals)
5:49		Nate Johnson shooting foul (Kyler VanderJagt draws the foul)
5:49		Kyler VanderJagt misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:49	+1	Kyler VanderJagt makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-65
5:29		Zips 30 second timeout
5:23	+2	Amani Lyles makes two point layup	72-65
5:08		Kyler VanderJagt misses three point jump shot
5:06		Tavari Johnson defensive rebound
4:59		Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
4:57		Kyler VanderJagt defensive rebound
4:45		Jakobi Heady turnover (lost ball) (Nate Johnson steals)
4:38		Jakobi Heady shooting foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
4:38		Nate Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:38		Nate Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:38		Cayden Vasko defensive rebound
4:15		Anthony Pritchard misses two point layup
4:13		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
3:59	+2	Amani Lyles makes two point layup (Nate Johnson assists)	74-65
3:45	+2	Jakobi Heady makes two point layup	74-67
3:38	+2	Nate Johnson makes two point layup (Tavari Johnson assists)	76-67
3:09	+2	Kyler VanderJagt makes two point layup	76-69
2:40		Amani Lyles turnover (lost ball)
2:35		Anthony Pritchard misses two point dunk
2:33		Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
2:08		Tavari Johnson misses two point layup
2:06		Anthony Pritchard defensive rebound
2:02		TV timeout
1:50		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
1:48		Tavari Johnson personal foul (Cayden Vasko draws the foul)
1:48	+1	Cayden Vasko makes regular free throw 1 of 2	76-70
1:48	+1	Cayden Vasko makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-71
1:37		Zips turnover (10-second violation)
1:25		Amani Lyles blocks Jakobi Heady's two point layup
1:23		Nate Johnson defensive rebound
1:15		Shammah Scott misses three point jump shot
1:13		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
1:04		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
1:02		Shammah Scott defensive rebound
0:49		Ugnius Jarusevicius personal foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
0:49	+1	Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-71
0:49	+1	Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-71
0:43		Cayden Vasko misses three point jump shot
0:41		Amani Lyles defensive rebound
0:38		Anthony Pritchard personal foul (Isaiah Gray draws the foul)
0:38	+1	Isaiah Gray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-71
0:38	+1	Isaiah Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-71
0:30	+3	Jakobi Heady makes three point jump shot (Kyler VanderJagt assists)	80-74
0:30		Chippewas 30 second timeout
0:26		Bryan Ndjonga personal foul (Shammah Scott draws the foul)
0:26		Shammah Scott misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:26	+1	Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2	81-74
0:15	+3	Bryan Ndjonga makes three point jump shot (Kyler VanderJagt assists)	81-77
0:15		Chippewas 60 second timeout
0:12		Jump ball. Isaiah Gray vs. Cayden Vasko (Cayden Vasko gains possession)
0:12		Isaiah Gray turnover (lost ball) (Cayden Vasko steals)
0:12		Zips 60 second timeout
0:10		Kyler VanderJagt misses three point jump shot
0:08		Ugnius Jarusevicius offensive rebound
0:06	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point jump shot	81-79
0:05		Cayden Vasko personal foul (Shammah Scott draws the foul)
0:05	+1	Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-79
0:05	+1	Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-79
0:04		Nate Johnson personal foul (Kyler VanderJagt draws the foul)
0:04		Kyler VanderJagt misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:04	+1	Kyler VanderJagt makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-80
0:04		Zips 30 second timeout
0:03		Kyler VanderJagt personal foul (Tavari Johnson draws the foul)
0:03	+1	Tavari Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-80
0:03	+1	Tavari Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	85-80
0:01	+2	Jakobi Heady makes two point jump shot	85-82
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Jakobi Heady makes two point jump shot