Akron Pulls Away From Falcons In MAC Opener

Saturday, January 9

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Akron

Photo by: Doug Sampson

January 09, 2010 | Men's Basketball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore
Louis Orr Postgame Audio

Akron, Ohio – The Akron men's basketball team shot 61 percent in the second half, including 6-of-7 from three-point range, to pull away from Bowling Green for a 71-45 victory Saturday night in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.

Bowling Green led for much of the first half but a late Akron run gave the Zips a 32-28 halftime lead. Akron outscored the Falcons 39-17 over the final 20 minutes to ice the contest.

The Zips turned things around by making three-pointers over the top of Bowling Green's 2-3 zone. Akron missed its first 10 three-point attempts as the Falcons built a nine-point lead but the Zips made nine of their next 10 attempts from long range to overtake BGSU.

Physical inside play and deadly shooting from outside helped Bowling Green go on an early 13-0 run to take a 19-10 lead. Joe Jakubowski scored eight points during that stretch, including a pair of three-pointers. The Falcons still led 24-17 after an Otis Polk three-point play with 4:43 to go in the first half but it was all Akron after that.

Jimmy Conyers' three-pointer with 3:10 to play got Akron within two and Anthony Hitchens' long range shot with 1:41 left gave Akron a 29-26 lead. Conyers followed with another three-pointer to make it 32-26 but Bowling Green's Jordon Crawford scored on a coast-to-coast lay-up as the half expired to cut the deficit to four.

Bowling Green stayed within single digits early in the second half, getting a pair of free-throws from Jakubowski with 12:35 to go that made it 45-37. But Steve McNees sandwiched two three-pointers around a Hitchens' three-ball and the Falcons never threatened again.

Jakubowski was the only Falcon to score in double-figures, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 3-of-4 three-pointers. Polk ended with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots and was the only other Falcon with more than four points.

Bowling Green shot just 20 percent from the field in the second half and 28 percent for the game. The Falcons also committed 21 turnovers and Akron turned those into 28 points. Conyers was one of four Zips to score in double-figures, leading the team with 16 points.

Akron improves to 11-4 overall and 1-0 in MAC play, while Bowling Green falls to 7-6 and 0-1 in conference. BGSU will be back in action Thursday when the Falcons host MAC opponent Buffalo at 7 p.m.