AKRON

TOLEDO

Akron upsets top-seeded Toledo 70-62 in MAC semifinals

AP
Mar 11, 2022

CLEVELAND (AP) Xavier Castaneda scored 26 points and Ali Ali added 13, leading fourth-seeded Akron Zips to a 70-62 upset of top-seeded Toledo Rockets in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Friday night.

The Zips (23-9) avenged a regular-season loss on Jan. 28 to Toledo and moved into Saturday's title game, where they'll play the winner of the second semifinal between Kent State and Ohio for the MAC's automatic NCAA bid.

The Rockets (26-7) had their six-game winning streak stopped. More importantly, they'll likely extend their NCAA Tournament drought to 42 years. Toledo last made the NCAA field in 1980 and despite the school's strong record this season, the MAC is unlikely to have a second team invited.

Enrique Freeman added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Akron, which last made the NCAAs in 2013.

Ryan Rollins scored 18 and Ra'Heim Moss had 13 for the Rockets, who pulled within 61-59 on JT Shumate's basket with 2:52 left. But Freeman powered inside for a bucket and Mikal Dawson made a big 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put Akron ahead 66-59 with 1:51 left.

Toledo again got within four, but the Rockets were forced to foul in the final minute and Greg Tribble and Castaneda made two free throws apiece to close out the win.

Down 15 and out of sorts, Toledo finally settled in and closed the first half with five straight points. The Rockets then opened the second 20 minutes by outscoring 19-10 over the first 8:48 to pull within 48-47 on Shumate's 3-pointer.

But Castaneda, a junior from Chicago, buried consecutive 3-pointers to put the Zips back in control.

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1st Half
AKRON
Zips
38
TOL
Rockets
26

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Enrique Freeman vs. Setric Millner Jr. (Zips gains possession)
19:39	+3	Xavier Castaneda makes three point jump shot (Greg Tribble assists)	3-0
19:24		Setric Millner Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:22		Rayj Dennis offensive rebound
19:03		Ryan Rollins misses three point jump shot
19:01		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
18:46	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point dunk (Ali Ali assists)	5-0
18:30	+2	Rayj Dennis makes two point jump shot	5-2
18:11	+2	Greg Tribble makes two point jump shot	7-2
17:49		Enrique Freeman personal foul
17:38	+2	Ra'Heim Moss makes two point layup	7-4
17:13		Ali Ali misses two point jump shot
17:11		JT Shumate defensive rebound
17:08		Ra'Heim Moss offensive foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
17:08		Ra'Heim Moss turnover
16:54		Ali Ali misses three point jump shot
16:52		Setric Millner Jr. defensive rebound
16:39		JT Shumate misses three point jump shot
16:37		Ali Ali defensive rebound
16:29	+3	Mikal Dawson makes three point jump shot (Greg Tribble assists)	10-4
16:11		Ryan Rollins misses three point jump shot
16:09		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
15:59		Greg Tribble misses three point jump shot
15:57		Rayj Dennis defensive rebound
15:45	+3	Ra'Heim Moss makes three point jump shot (Setric Millner Jr. assists)	10-7
15:25	+2	Greg Tribble makes two point driving layup	12-7
15:11		Setric Millner Jr. misses two point jump shot
15:09		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
14:49		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
14:47		Ra'Heim Moss defensive rebound
14:33		Rayj Dennis turnover (lost ball)
14:33		TV timeout
14:13	+3	Mikal Dawson makes three point jump shot (Greg Tribble assists)	15-7
13:42		JT Shumate misses two point jump shot
13:40		Ra'Heim Moss offensive rebound
13:36	+2	Ra'Heim Moss makes two point putback layup	15-9
13:36		Mikal Dawson shooting foul (Ra'Heim Moss draws the foul)
13:36		Ra'Heim Moss misses regular free throw 1 of 1
13:36		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
13:17		Greg Tribble misses two point jump shot
13:15		Enrique Freeman offensive rebound
13:11	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point putback layup	17-9
12:45	+2	Ra'Heim Moss makes two point driving layup	17-11
12:18		Garvin Clarke misses three point jump shot
12:16		Keshaun Saunders defensive rebound
12:06	+3	JT Shumate makes three point jump shot (Rayj Dennis assists)	17-14
11:39		Ali Ali misses two point jump shot
11:37		Kooper Jacobi defensive rebound
11:17		Rayj Dennis misses two point jump shot
11:15		JT Shumate offensive rebound
11:15		Garvin Clarke personal foul (JT Shumate draws the foul)
11:15		TV timeout
11:15		JT Shumate misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:15		JT Shumate misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:15		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
10:58		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
10:56		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
10:42		Setric Millner Jr. misses two point jump shot
10:40		Ali Ali defensive rebound
10:27		Garvin Clarke misses three point jump shot
10:25		Michael Wynn offensive rebound
10:23		Michael Wynn misses two point layup
10:21		Garvin Clarke offensive rebound
10:15	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point layup (Garvin Clarke assists)	19-14
10:01		Ryan Rollins misses three point jump shot
9:59		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
9:30	+2	Ali Ali makes two point layup	21-14
9:10	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point jump shot	21-16
8:40	+2	Xavier Castaneda makes two point floating jump shot	23-16
8:20	+2	Rayj Dennis makes two point layup	23-18
8:03	+3	Xavier Castaneda makes three point step back jump shot	26-18
7:39		Ryan Rollins misses two point jump shot
7:37		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
7:14		JT Shumate personal foul (Garvin Clarke draws the foul)
7:14		TV timeout
7:03	+2	Greg Tribble makes two point layup (Enrique Freeman assists)	28-18
6:44		Ra'Heim Moss misses two point jump shot
6:42		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
6:36		Mihai Carcoana personal foul
6:22		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
6:20		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
6:15		Michael Wynn personal foul (Ra'Heim Moss draws the foul)
6:12		Ryan Rollins misses two point jump shot
6:10		Mikal Dawson defensive rebound
5:55		Rayj Dennis personal foul (Greg Tribble draws the foul)
5:48	+2	Xavier Castaneda makes two point step back jump shot	30-18
5:32		Ryan Rollins misses two point jump shot
5:30		Mihai Carcoana offensive rebound
5:28		Michael Wynn shooting foul (Mihai Carcoana draws the foul)
5:28		Mihai Carcoana misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:28	+1	Mihai Carcoana makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-19
5:14		Enrique Freeman turnover (3-second violation)
5:03		Xavier Castaneda personal foul (Rayj Dennis draws the foul)
4:54		Greg Tribble blocks Ryan Rollins's two point jump shot
4:52		Mikal Dawson defensive rebound
4:39		Greg Tribble misses two point floating jump shot
4:37		Keshaun Saunders defensive rebound
4:28		Michael Wynn blocks Ra'Heim Moss's two point layup
4:26		Rockets offensive rebound
4:18	+2	Ra'Heim Moss makes two point layup (Ryan Rollins assists)	30-21
3:53		Greg Tribble turnover (lost ball) (Ra'Heim Moss steals)
3:40		Ali Ali personal foul (Ra'Heim Moss draws the foul)
3:40		TV timeout
3:40		Ryan Rollins misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:40		Mikal Dawson defensive rebound
3:14	+2	Ali Ali makes two point jump shot	32-21
2:54		Rayj Dennis turnover (lost ball) (Ali Ali steals)
2:46		Enrique Freeman turnover (lost ball) (Rayj Dennis steals)
2:43		Mikal Dawson personal foul (Rayj Dennis draws the foul)
2:43	+1	Rayj Dennis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-22
2:43	+1	Rayj Dennis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-23
2:25	+2	Ali Ali makes two point turnaround jump shot	34-23
2:11		Ra'Heim Moss turnover (traveling)
1:53		JT Shumate shooting foul (Ali Ali draws the foul)
1:53	+1	Ali Ali makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-23
1:53	+1	Ali Ali makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-23
1:35		JT Shumate turnover (lost ball) (Xavier Castaneda steals)
1:33		Ra'Heim Moss personal foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
1:19	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point layup	38-23
1:00	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point jump shot	38-25
0:34		Ali Ali misses three point jump shot
0:32		Setric Millner Jr. defensive rebound
0:32		Rockets 30 second timeout
0:25	+3	Ryan Rollins makes three point jump shot	38-26
0:05		Garvin Clarke misses three point jump shot
0:03		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
AKRON
Zips
32
TOL
Rockets
36

Time		Play	Score
19:36	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point driving layup	38-30
19:03		Xavier Castaneda turnover (lost ball)
18:47		JT Shumate turnover (bad pass) (Enrique Freeman steals)
18:41		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
18:39		Zips offensive rebound
18:31		Ali Ali misses two point jump shot
18:29		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
18:23		Ra'Heim Moss turnover (lost ball) (Greg Tribble steals)
18:14		Greg Tribble misses two point layup
18:12		Enrique Freeman offensive rebound
18:13		Ryan Rollins personal foul (Enrique Freeman draws the foul)
17:56		Ali Ali misses two point jump shot
17:54		Ra'Heim Moss defensive rebound
17:48	+2	Ra'Heim Moss makes two point driving layup	38-32
17:48		Enrique Freeman personal foul (Setric Millner Jr. draws the foul)
17:41		Setric Millner Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:39		Rayj Dennis offensive rebound
17:32	+2	Rayj Dennis makes two point layup	38-34
17:21		Rayj Dennis personal foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
17:08		Rayj Dennis shooting foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
17:08	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-34
17:08	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-34
16:55		Ra'Heim Moss misses two point layup
16:53		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
16:40		Greg Tribble misses two point jump shot
16:38		Ra'Heim Moss defensive rebound
16:30	+2	JT Shumate makes two point layup (Ryan Rollins assists)	40-36
15:56		Mikal Dawson misses three point jump shot
15:54		Ali Ali offensive rebound
15:51	+3	Xavier Castaneda makes three point jump shot (Ali Ali assists)	43-36
15:35	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point pullup jump shot	43-38
15:15		Ali Ali turnover (traveling)
15:15		TV timeout
14:54		Michael Wynn personal foul (Ryan Rollins draws the foul)
14:35	+2	Setric Millner Jr. makes two point jump shot	43-40
13:49		Ryan Rollins shooting foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
13:49	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 1 of 3	44-40
13:49	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 2 of 3	45-40
13:49	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 3 of 3	46-40
13:38	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point step back jump shot	46-42
13:12		Garvin Clarke misses two point jump shot
13:10		Ra'Heim Moss defensive rebound
13:00		Rayj Dennis turnover (bad pass) (Enrique Freeman steals)
12:45		Ali Ali turnover (lost ball) (Ra'Heim Moss steals)
12:40		Michael Wynn blocks Ryan Rollins's two point jump shot
12:38		Setric Millner Jr. offensive rebound
12:37	+2	Setric Millner Jr. makes two point putback layup	46-44
12:40		Michael Wynn shooting foul (Setric Millner Jr. draws the foul)
12:37		Setric Millner Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:37		Mikal Dawson defensive rebound
12:15	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point jump shot	48-44
11:40		Setric Millner Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:38		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
11:33		Mikal Dawson misses three point jump shot
11:31		JT Shumate defensive rebound
11:31		Enrique Freeman personal foul (JT Shumate draws the foul)
11:31		TV timeout
11:12	+3	JT Shumate makes three point jump shot (Ra'Heim Moss assists)	48-47
10:44	+2	Ali Ali makes two point jump shot	50-47
10:44		Setric Millner Jr. shooting foul (Ali Ali draws the foul)
10:44	+1	Ali Ali makes regular free throw 1 of 1	51-47
10:28		Setric Millner Jr. misses two point layup
10:26		Xavier Castaneda defensive rebound
10:16		Xavier Castaneda misses two point jump shot
10:14		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
10:10		Mikal Dawson shooting foul (Ryan Rollins draws the foul)
10:10	+1	Ryan Rollins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-48
10:10		Ryan Rollins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:10		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
9:43		Mikal Dawson misses three point jump shot
9:41		Ra'Heim Moss defensive rebound
9:34		Enrique Freeman shooting foul (Setric Millner Jr. draws the foul)
9:34	+1	Setric Millner Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-49
9:34		Setric Millner Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
9:34		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
9:04	+2	Ali Ali makes two point turnaround jump shot	53-49
8:46		Ryan Rollins misses three point jump shot
8:44		Xavier Castaneda defensive rebound
8:22		Zips 30 second timeout
8:22		TV timeout
8:19	+3	Xavier Castaneda makes three point jump shot	56-49
7:58	+2	Ryan Rollins makes two point layup (Ra'Heim Moss assists)	56-51
7:39	+3	Xavier Castaneda makes three point jump shot	59-51
7:33		Greg Tribble personal foul (Setric Millner Jr. draws the foul)
7:33		TV timeout
7:33		Setric Millner Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:33		Setric Millner Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:33		Michael Wynn defensive rebound
7:14		Xavier Castaneda turnover (bad pass) (Setric Millner Jr. steals)
7:14		Ali Ali personal foul (Setric Millner Jr. draws the foul)
7:14	+1	Setric Millner Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-52
7:14	+1	Setric Millner Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-53
6:51		Ali Ali turnover (bad pass) (JT Shumate steals)
6:34	+2	Rayj Dennis makes two point floating jump shot	59-55
6:02		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
6:00		Garvin Clarke offensive rebound
5:55		Michael Wynn misses two point jump shot
5:53		Ali Ali offensive rebound
5:38	+2	Greg Tribble makes two point floating jump shot	61-55
5:14		Rayj Dennis misses two point jump shot
5:12		Xavier Castaneda defensive rebound
5:14		Ra'Heim Moss personal foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
4:51		Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot
4:49		Ryan Rollins defensive rebound
4:41		Ryan Rollins misses two point jump shot
4:39		Enrique Freeman defensive rebound
4:09		Zips turnover (shot clock violation)
4:09		TV timeout
3:53		Rayj Dennis misses three point jump shot
3:51		Ra'Heim Moss offensive rebound
3:50		Michael Wynn personal foul (Ra'Heim Moss draws the foul)
3:50		Ra'Heim Moss misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:50		Rockets offensive rebound
3:45		Rayj Dennis misses two point jump shot
3:43		JT Shumate offensive rebound
3:38	+2	JT Shumate makes two point putback layup	61-57
3:08		Xavier Castaneda misses two point jump shot
3:06		JT Shumate defensive rebound
3:08		Xavier Castaneda blocks Ryan Rollins's two point layup
3:06		Rockets offensive rebound
2:53	+2	JT Shumate makes two point layup (Ryan Rollins assists)	61-59
2:32	+2	Enrique Freeman makes two point layup (Greg Tribble assists)	63-59
2:16		JT Shumate misses two point layup
2:14		Mikal Dawson defensive rebound
1:54	+3	Mikal Dawson makes three point jump shot (Xavier Castaneda assists)	66-59
1:51		Rockets 60 second timeout
1:39		Enrique Freeman shooting foul (Rayj Dennis draws the foul)
1:39	+1	Rayj Dennis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-60
1:39		Rayj Dennis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:39		Rayj Dennis offensive rebound
1:31		Greg Tribble personal foul (Ryan Rollins draws the foul)
1:31	+1	Ryan Rollins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-61
1:31		Zips 30 second timeout
1:31	+1	Ryan Rollins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-62
1:03		Ryan Rollins personal foul (Greg Tribble draws the foul)
1:03	+1	Greg Tribble makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-62
1:03	+1	Greg Tribble makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-62
0:57		Rayj Dennis misses three point jump shot
0:55		Garvin Clarke defensive rebound
0:50		Rayj Dennis personal foul (Garvin Clarke draws the foul)
0:50		Garvin Clarke misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:50		Setric Millner Jr. defensive rebound
0:45		Mikal Dawson blocks Ryan Rollins's three point jump shot
0:43		Zips defensive rebound
0:34		Ryan Rollins personal foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul)
0:34	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-62
0:34	+1	Xavier Castaneda makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-62
0:25		Rayj Dennis misses two point jump shot
0:23		Xavier Castaneda defensive rebound
0:21		JT Shumate personal foul (Garvin Clarke draws the foul)
0:21		Garvin Clarke misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:21		Garvin Clarke misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:21		Ali Ali offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Ali Ali offensive rebound