Akron beats Buffalo 88-70 in finale after already clinching Mid-American Conference title
AP
Mar 07, 2025
Akron Zips, Ohio (AP) Isaiah Gray and Nate Johnson scored 14 points apiece to help Akron defeat Buffalo Bulls 88-70 on Friday night in a Mid-American Conference regular-season finale.
Gray shot 7 of 12 from the field for the Zips (25-6, 17-1 Mid-American Conference), who had already clinched the top seed and will open the conference tournament on Thursday against No. 8 seed Bowling Green. The Bulls (9-22, 4-14) finished 11th and did not qualify for the tourney.
Shammah Scott added 11 points for Akron.
Ben Michaels and Ryan Sabol both scored 14 to lead Buffalo. Lloyd McVeigh had 11 points and six rebounds.
Akron took the lead with 18:50 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 47-24 at halftime, with Bowen Hardman racking up seven points.
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1st Half
BUF
Bulls
24
AKRON
Zips
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Ben Michaels vs. James Okonkwo (Tavari Johnson gains possession)
19:37
Evan Wilson misses three point jump shot
19:35
Isaiah Gray offensive rebound
19:27
Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:25
Noah Batchelor defensive rebound
19:11
Noah Batchelor misses three point jump shot
19:09
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
18:50
+3
Evan Wilson makes three point jump shot (James Okonkwo assists)
0-3
18:32
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
18:30
Seth Wilson defensive rebound
18:19
+3
Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Gray assists)
0-6
17:59
Ben Michaels misses three point jump shot
17:57
Noah Batchelor offensive rebound
17:50
+2
Ben Michaels makes two point layup (Noah Batchelor assists)
2-6
17:31
+2
James Okonkwo makes two point hook shot (Tavari Johnson assists)
2-8
17:12
+2
Ryan Sabol makes two point layup
4-8
16:39
Bryson Wilson blocks Shammah Scott's two point layup
16:37
Bryson Wilson defensive rebound
16:24
Kavon Bradford misses two point layup
16:22
Kavon Bradford offensive rebound
16:22
Kavon Bradford turnover (lost ball)
16:07
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup
4-10
15:52
Noah Batchelor turnover (bad pass) (Shammah Scott steals)
15:47
+2
Shammah Scott makes two point layup
4-12
15:29
+2
Ben Michaels makes two point layup
6-12
15:23
Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
15:21
Amani Lyles offensive rebound
15:12
+3
Shammah Scott makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)
6-15
14:57
TV timeout
14:44
Bryson Wilson misses three point jump shot
14:42
Sharron Young defensive rebound
14:33
Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
14:31
Amani Lyles offensive rebound
14:30
Bryson Wilson blocks Nate Johnson's two point dunk
14:28
Zips offensive rebound
14:19
Frederiks Meinarts blocks Nate Johnson's two point layup
14:17
Ryan Sabol defensive rebound
14:14
+3
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes three point jump shot (Tyson Dunn assists)
9-15
14:09
Ryan Sabol personal foul
13:47
Amani Lyles misses two point layup
13:45
Tyson Dunn defensive rebound
13:37
Bryson Wilson misses two point jump shot
13:35
Sharron Young defensive rebound
13:12
+2
Nate Johnson makes two point jump shot
9-17
12:58
+2
Tyson Dunn makes two point layup
11-17
12:36
Bowen Hardman misses three point jump shot
12:34
Sharron Young offensive rebound
12:30
+2
Sharron Young makes two point layup
11-19
12:10
+3
Ben Michaels makes three point jump shot (Bryson Wilson assists)
14-19
11:51
Noah Batchelor shooting foul (Bowen Hardman draws the foul)
11:51
TV timeout
11:51
+1
Bowen Hardman makes regular free throw 1 of 2
14-20
11:51
Bowen Hardman misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:51
Ben Michaels defensive rebound
11:41
Kavon Bradford turnover (lost ball) (Seth Wilson steals)
11:30
+3
Bowen Hardman makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)
14-23
11:12
Ben Michaels misses two point layup
11:10
Bowen Hardman defensive rebound
10:46
+3
Seth Wilson makes three point jump shot (Tavari Johnson assists)
14-26
10:23
+2
Kavon Bradford makes two point layup (Ryan Sabol assists)
16-26
10:23
Tavari Johnson shooting foul (Kavon Bradford draws the foul)
10:23
+1
Kavon Bradford makes regular free throw 1 of 1
17-26
10:07
+2
James Okonkwo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tavari Johnson assists)
17-28
9:47
Anquan Boldin Jr. misses three point jump shot
9:45
Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
9:32
Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
9:30
Isaiah Gray offensive rebound
9:29
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup
17-30
9:29
Bulls 30 second timeout
9:17
Bryson Wilson misses three point jump shot
9:15
Ben Michaels offensive rebound
9:15
Ben Michaels misses two point layup
9:13
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
9:13
Noah Batchelor personal foul
8:51
James Okonkwo offensive foul
8:40
James Okonkwo turnover
8:40
Tyson Dunn misses three point jump shot
8:38
Shammah Scott defensive rebound
8:25
+3
Nate Johnson makes three point jump shot (Shammah Scott assists)
17-33
8:18
Tyson Dunn misses three point jump shot
8:16
Tavari Johnson defensive rebound
8:03
Amani Lyles misses two point layup
8:01
Amani Lyles offensive rebound
7:52
Bryson Wilson shooting foul (Shammah Scott draws the foul)
7:52
TV timeout
7:52
Shammah Scott misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:52
+1
Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-34
7:45
Kavon Bradford turnover (lost ball) (Nate Johnson steals)
7:23
Marvin Musiime-Kamali misses two point layup
7:21
Bulls defensive rebound
7:04
Ryan Sabol turnover (lost ball)
6:50
Nate Johnson misses two point jump shot
6:48
Lloyd McVeigh defensive rebound
6:35
Tyson Dunn misses three point jump shot
6:33
Nate Johnson defensive rebound
6:21
Sharron Young misses three point jump shot
6:19
Amani Lyles offensive rebound
6:12
Shammah Scott misses two point jump shot
6:10
Kavon Bradford defensive rebound
5:48
Kavon Bradford turnover (lost ball) (Sharron Young steals)
5:43
Anquan Boldin Jr. shooting foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
5:43
Nate Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:43
+1
Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-35
5:25
+3
Tyson Dunn makes three point jump shot (Bryson Wilson assists)
20-35
4:57
Isaiah Gray misses two point jump shot
4:55
Sharron Young offensive rebound
4:55
+2
James Okonkwo makes two point dunk (Sharron Young assists)
20-37
4:55
Lloyd McVeigh shooting foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
4:55
+1
James Okonkwo makes regular free throw 1 of 1
20-38
4:39
+2
Bryson Wilson makes two point layup
22-38
4:20
+3
Bowen Hardman makes three point jump shot (Seth Wilson assists)
22-41
4:09
Lloyd McVeigh turnover (out of bounds)
3:50
Sharron Young misses two point layup
3:48
Bryson Wilson defensive rebound
3:35
Bryson Wilson turnover (bad pass) (Sharron Young steals)
3:28
Seth Wilson misses three point jump shot
3:26
Ben Michaels defensive rebound
3:16
Tyson Dunn misses two point layup
3:14
Seth Wilson defensive rebound
3:07
Bowen Hardman misses three point jump shot
3:05
James Okonkwo offensive rebound
3:03
Ryan Sabol personal foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
3:03
TV timeout
3:03
James Okonkwo misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:03
Bulls defensive rebound
2:46
Marvin Musiime-Kamali shooting foul (Omar Migues-Hibeljic draws the foul)
2:46
+1
Omar Migues-Hibeljic makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-41
2:46
+1
Omar Migues-Hibeljic makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-41
2:31
Tavari Johnson misses three point jump shot
2:29
Shammah Scott offensive rebound
2:18
+2
Amani Lyles makes two point layup (Shammah Scott assists)
24-43
1:58
Omar Migues-Hibeljic misses two point jump shot
1:56
Shammah Scott defensive rebound
1:42
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup (Amani Lyles assists)
24-45
1:21
Bryson Wilson turnover (bad pass) (Tavari Johnson steals)
1:10
+2
Tavari Johnson makes two point dunk
24-47
0:55
Bryson Wilson misses two point layup
0:53
Lloyd McVeigh offensive rebound
0:47
Ben Michaels misses three point jump shot
0:45
Tavari Johnson defensive rebound
0:33
Isaiah Gray misses two point layup
0:31
Ben Michaels defensive rebound
0:06
Amani Lyles blocks Tyson Dunn's two point layup
0:05
Bulls offensive rebound
0:05
Zips 30 second timeout
0:05
Marvin Musiime-Kamali personal foul
0:02
Tyson Dunn misses three point jump shot
0:01
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
BUF
Bulls
46
AKRON
Zips
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:36
Ben Michaels shooting foul (Seth Wilson draws the foul)
19:36
Seth Wilson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:36
+1
Seth Wilson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-48
19:22
Anquan Boldin Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:20
Nate Johnson defensive rebound
19:14
Isaiah Gray misses two point jump shot
19:12
Seth Wilson offensive rebound
19:08
+3
Tavari Johnson makes three point jump shot (Seth Wilson assists)
24-51
18:44
Ryan Sabol misses two point jump shot
18:42
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
18:36
Isaiah Gray turnover (lost ball) (Anquan Boldin Jr. steals)
18:17
+3
Ryan Sabol makes three point jump shot
27-51
18:02
+2
James Okonkwo makes two point layup (Isaiah Gray assists)
27-53
17:49
Nate Johnson shooting foul (Ryan Sabol draws the foul)
17:49
+1
Ryan Sabol makes regular free throw 1 of 3
28-53
17:49
+1
Ryan Sabol makes regular free throw 2 of 3
29-53
17:49
+1
Ryan Sabol makes regular free throw 3 of 3
30-53
17:25
Isaiah Gray misses two point layup
17:23
Ben Michaels defensive rebound
17:14
+3
Ben Michaels makes three point jump shot (Anquan Boldin Jr. assists)
33-53
16:56
Nate Johnson turnover (traveling)
16:44
+2
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes two point layup
35-53
16:36
Ben Michaels personal foul
16:24
+3
Nate Johnson makes three point jump shot (Amani Lyles assists)
35-56
16:06
+2
Ryan Sabol makes two point jump shot
37-56
15:38
+2
Seth Wilson makes two point layup
37-58
15:32
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
15:30
Anquan Boldin Jr. offensive rebound
15:27
Nate Johnson blocks Anquan Boldin Jr.'s two point layup
15:25
Tavari Johnson defensive rebound
15:18
+2
Tavari Johnson makes two point layup
37-60
14:56
+2
Ben Michaels makes two point layup
39-60
14:45
Tyson Dunn shooting foul (Shammah Scott draws the foul)
14:45
TV timeout
14:45
+1
Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2
39-61
14:45
+1
Shammah Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2
39-62
14:25
Bryson Wilson misses two point layup
14:23
Amani Lyles defensive rebound
14:18
+2
Sharron Young makes two point layup
39-64
13:44
Kavon Bradford misses two point jump shot
13:42
Bryson Wilson offensive rebound
13:40
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
13:39
Noah Batchelor offensive rebound
13:37
Bowen Hardman personal foul (Noah Batchelor draws the foul)
13:28
Marvin Musiime-Kamali shooting foul (Ben Michaels draws the foul)
13:28
+1
Ben Michaels makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-64
13:28
+1
Ben Michaels makes regular free throw 2 of 2
41-64
13:15
Sharron Young turnover (lost ball) (Kavon Bradford steals)
13:03
Ben Michaels offensive foul
13:03
Ben Michaels turnover (offensive foul)
12:48
+3
Shammah Scott makes three point jump shot
41-67
12:34
+3
Bryson Wilson makes three point jump shot
44-67
12:08
+2
Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes two point layup (Shammah Scott assists)
44-69
11:56
Bowen Hardman shooting foul (Anquan Boldin Jr. draws the foul)
11:56
TV timeout
11:56
+1
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-69
11:56
+1
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
46-69
11:37
Sharron Young misses three point jump shot
11:35
Ryan Sabol defensive rebound
11:26
Ryan Sabol misses two point layup
11:24
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
11:09
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup (Seth Wilson assists)
46-71
10:49
James Okonkwo shooting foul (Anquan Boldin Jr. draws the foul)
10:49
+1
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-71
10:49
Anquan Boldin Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:49
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
10:31
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup
47-73
10:21
Tyson Dunn turnover (lost ball) (James Okonkwo steals)
10:04
Nate Johnson misses two point layup
10:02
Frederiks Meinarts defensive rebound
9:54
+3
Lloyd McVeigh makes three point jump shot (Frederiks Meinarts assists)
50-73
9:54
Zips 30 second timeout
9:54
TV timeout
9:25
Tavari Johnson misses two point layup
9:23
Anquan Boldin Jr. defensive rebound
9:07
+2
Lloyd McVeigh makes two point layup
52-73
8:43
Shammah Scott misses two point jump shot
8:41
Lloyd McVeigh defensive rebound
8:36
+2
Noah Batchelor makes two point layup (Lloyd McVeigh assists)
54-73
8:36
Tavari Johnson shooting foul (Noah Batchelor draws the foul)
8:36
+1
Noah Batchelor makes regular free throw 1 of 1
55-73
8:23
Bowen Hardman misses three point jump shot
8:21
Anquan Boldin Jr. defensive rebound
8:08
Lloyd McVeigh misses two point layup
8:06
Frederiks Meinarts offensive rebound
7:57
Frederiks Meinarts misses two point layup
7:55
Amani Lyles defensive rebound
7:42
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point layup (Amani Lyles assists)
55-75
7:20
Anquan Boldin Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:18
Amani Lyles defensive rebound
7:05
Isaiah Gray misses two point layup
7:03
Amani Lyles offensive rebound
6:55
Amani Lyles misses two point layup
6:53
Frederiks Meinarts defensive rebound
6:52
Lloyd McVeigh misses three point jump shot
6:50
Amani Lyles defensive rebound
6:49
Frederiks Meinarts personal foul
6:49
TV timeout
6:35
Nate Johnson misses two point layup
6:33
Noah Batchelor defensive rebound
6:23
+2
Ryan Sabol makes two point layup
57-75
6:13
Nate Johnson misses three point jump shot
6:11
Lloyd McVeigh defensive rebound
5:55
Seth Wilson personal foul (Lloyd McVeigh draws the foul)
5:55
+1
Lloyd McVeigh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
58-75
5:55
+1
Lloyd McVeigh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
59-75
5:42
+2
Nate Johnson makes two point layup
59-77
5:21
+2
Kavon Bradford makes two point layup
61-77
5:08
Ben Michaels shooting foul (James Okonkwo draws the foul)
5:08
James Okonkwo misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:08
+1
James Okonkwo makes regular free throw 2 of 2
61-78
4:54
Lloyd McVeigh misses two point layup
4:52
Lloyd McVeigh offensive rebound
4:49
+2
Lloyd McVeigh makes two point layup
63-78
4:32
+2
Nate Johnson makes two point layup
63-80
4:32
Lloyd McVeigh shooting foul (Nate Johnson draws the foul)
4:32
+1
Nate Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1
63-81
4:10
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
4:08
Isaiah Gray defensive rebound
3:51
+2
Sharron Young makes two point jump shot
63-83
3:35
+2
Ryan Sabol makes two point layup
65-83
3:32
Sharron Young misses three point jump shot
3:30
James Okonkwo offensive rebound
3:11
Shammah Scott turnover (bad pass)
3:11
TV timeout
2:58
Frederiks Meinarts misses two point jump shot
2:56
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
2:34
Evan Wilson misses three point jump shot
2:32
James Okonkwo offensive rebound
2:27
Sharron Young misses three point jump shot
2:25
Bryson Wilson defensive rebound
2:19
Bryson Wilson misses two point jump shot
2:17
James Okonkwo defensive rebound
2:07
+2
Isaiah Gray makes two point jump shot
65-85
1:47
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
1:45
Frederiks Meinarts offensive rebound
1:38
Lloyd McVeigh misses three point jump shot
1:36
Lloyd McVeigh offensive rebound
1:29
+2
Lloyd McVeigh makes two point layup
67-85
1:24
Evan Wilson misses three point jump shot
1:23
Kavon Bradford defensive rebound
1:21
Seth Wilson personal foul (Kavon Bradford draws the foul)
1:21
+1
Kavon Bradford makes regular free throw 1 of 2
68-85
1:21
+1
Kavon Bradford makes regular free throw 2 of 2
69-85
1:21
Bulls 30 second timeout
1:16
Evan Wilson misses three point jump shot
1:14
Marvin Musiime-Kamali offensive rebound
1:12
Frederiks Meinarts personal foul (Marvin Musiime-Kamali draws the foul)
1:12
+1
Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes regular free throw 1 of 2
69-86
1:12
+1
Marvin Musiime-Kamali makes regular free throw 2 of 2
69-87
0:54
Ryan Sabol misses three point jump shot
0:52
Evan Wilson defensive rebound
0:46
Kavon Bradford personal foul (Sharron Young draws the foul)
0:46
+1
Sharron Young makes regular free throw 1 of 2
69-88
0:46
Sharron Young misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:46
Frederiks Meinarts defensive rebound
0:36
Anquan Boldin Jr. turnover (Bowen Hardman steals)
0:35
Sharron Young turnover (bad pass) (Kavon Bradford steals)
0:28
Amani Lyles shooting foul (Anquan Boldin Jr. draws the foul)
0:28
+1
Anquan Boldin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-88
0:28
Anquan Boldin Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
