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Akron men's basketball replay | MAC-leading Zips roll past Central Michigan

michael beaven, akron beacon journal
·6 min read

Coming off a big win in a Mid-American Conference men's basketball battle for first place, the league-leading Akron Zips faced another of the MAC's top teams Tuesday night and kept the momentum rolling.

Akron (17-5, 9-1) hosted Central Michigan (13-9, 8-2), which entered the night tied for second in the league with Toledo, which lost to the Zips last Friday night. The Zips scored the game's first 13 points against CMU and led by double digits the rest of the way in a 68-47 win.

Here's how the game unfolded Tuesday night through our live updates:

Akron seniors Ali Ali (24) and Enrique Freeman (25) put defensive pressure on VonCameron Davis of Kent State, Jan. 19, 2024.
Akron seniors Ali Ali (24) and Enrique Freeman (25) put defensive pressure on VonCameron Davis of Kent State, Jan. 19, 2024.

Akron remains atop Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings

Akron earns a 68-47 win over CMU with 17 points apiece from Enrique Freeman and Greg Tribble Jr.

The Zips built a 13-0 lead in the first half and never trailed.

Akron men's basketball star Enrique Freeman heating up in second half against Central Michigan

Enrique Freeman is up to 17 points and 15 rebounds and Akron leads CMU 67-40 with 2:56 to go in the second half.

Greg Tribble is at 17 points and seven rebounds for Akron.

Zips coach John Groce is subbing Freeman, Tribble and others out and clearing the bench.

Akron men's basketball player Enrique Freeman records another double-double against Central Michigan

Enrique Freeman made two free throws with 7:30 to go in the second half and has another double-double.

He drops in a field goal on Akron's next possession and is up to 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Akron leads CMU 55-35.

Enrique Freeman closing on an another double-double for Akron men's basketball

Enrique Freeman has nine points and 14 rebounds with 7:37 remaining in the first half and Akron up 51-35 over Central Michigan.

Greg Tribble Jr. continues to lead scorers with 14 points.

Freeman, Tribble, Kaleb Thornton, Mikal Dawson and Tavari Johnson have all made a 3 for UA.

Akron men's basketball maintains lead in second half against Central Michigan

Greg Tribble is up to 14 points after making 1 of 2 free throws after CMU coach Tont Barbee was whistled for a technical foul with 14:13 left in the first half.

Akron leads CMU 46-28 with 11:33 remaining in the first half.

Neither team is shooting very well. Both sides struggling from 3-point range.

Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble shoots during the first half against Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble shoots during the first half against Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Greg Tribble Jr. heating up in second half for Akron men's basketball against Central Michigan

Greg Tribble Jr. makes a 3-pointer and a layup as Akron leads CMU 40-24 with 15:35 to go in the second half.

Tribble has 13 points and three rebounds.

Enrique Freeman is up to 11 rebounds and has five points.

Akron men's basketball leads Central Michigan 35-20 at halftime

Tavari Johnson leads Akron at the break with 10 points and Greg Tribble Jr. has eight points.

Akron's other leading scorers are Ali Ali (six points, five rebounds) and Enrique Freeman (five points, nine rebounds).

CMU's Derrick Butler, Paul McMillan IV and Jemal Davis have four points apiece.

Akron is shooting 37 percent from the field at 13 of 35 and is 6 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc.

CMU is shooting 28 percent from the field at 7 of 25 and is 1 of 11 from beyond the 3-point arc.

University of Akron's Tavari Johnson drives past Gardner-Webb's DQ Nicholas for a layup on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
University of Akron's Tavari Johnson drives past Gardner-Webb's DQ Nicholas for a layup on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.

Tavari Johnson providing spark off bench for Akron men's basketball team against Central Michigan

Tavari Johnson swishes another 3-pointer to give Akron a 33-11 lead over Central Michigan with 4:43 remaining in the first half.

A few possessions later, Johnson with a nice pass to Ali Ali for a bucket to give Akron a 35-11 lead.

Timeout on the floor with 3:09 left in the first half and the Zips are up 35-14.

Akron men's basketball maintains lead in first half against Central Michigan

Akron leads 24-7 with 7:59 to go in the first half.

The Zips are shooting 43 percent from the field (9 of 21) and the Chippewas are at 18 percent (3 of 17).

Tavari Johnson, Enrique Freeman, Greg Tribble Jr., Ali Ali and Kaleb Thornton have scored for Akron.

Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble (2) is all smiles after making a first-half 3 against Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble (2) is all smiles after making a first-half 3 against Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Akron men's basketball takes control against Central Michigan in first half

Akron led 13-0 with 14:50 to go in the first half after Tavari Johnson made a layup and a 3-pointer.

Anthony Pritchard made a free throw with 14:03 left in the first half to give CMU its first point as Akron led 13-1.

Derrick Butler made CMU's first field goal, a layup, with 11:57 remaining in the first half and Akron led 15-3.

Akron's Greg Tribble Jr. converted a 3-point play (layup and free throw) to extend the lead to 20-5 with 11:17 to go in the first half.

Johnson scored seven of Akron's first 20 points.

Akron men's basketball scores quick to lead Central Michigan in first half

Enrique Freeman made his first two shots and Kaleb Thornton swished a 3-pointer to give Akron a 8-0 lead with 16:08 to go in the first half.

Freeman converted a shot in the paint and a 3-pointer to score Akron's first five points.

How to watch the Akron v. Central Michigan men's basketball game on TV, livestream

Sammy Hunter and Ali Ali celebrate late in Akron's win at Kent State last month.
Sammy Hunter and Ali Ali celebrate late in Akron's win at Kent State last month.

The game, which tips at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Arena, is not on TV. ESPN+ is livestreaming it.

Akron Zips men's basketball projected starters vs. Central Michigan

Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble (2) brings down a second-half rebound over forward Sammy Hunter (11) and Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble (2) brings down a second-half rebound over forward Sammy Hunter (11) and Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

  • 2 Greg Tribble Jr.

  • 11 Sammy Hunter -- NOT IN UNIFORM ... Kaleb Thornton GETS THE START

  • 22 Mikal Dawson

  • 24 Ali Ali

  • 25 Enrique Freeman

Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball projected starters vs. Akron

  • 0 Brian Taylor

  • 2 Cayden Vasko

  • 3 Derrick Butler

  • 11 KJ Oduor

  • 34 Paul McMillan IV ... DID NOT START ... 30 Anthony Pritchard GETS THE START

Looking back at Akron's win over Toledo

Akron Zips forward Ali Ali smiles during a break in action against Toledo on Feb. 2, 2024.
Akron Zips forward Ali Ali smiles during a break in action against Toledo on Feb. 2, 2024.

Big games by senior stars Ali Ali (26 points) and Enrique Freeman (20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three blocks) led Akron in its 77-70 win over Toledo. Mikal Dawson added 14 points for the Zips, while Greg Tribble Jr. and Tavari Johnson scored six and five points, respectively.

More Akron Zips men's basketball: Ali Ali leads Akron men's basketball past Toledo in Mid-American Conference showdown

Akron basketball's Enrique Freeman leads NCAA Division I in rebounding, double-doubles

Akron Zips forward Enrique Freeman dribbles past Toledo Rockets forward Javan Simmons on Feb. 2, 2024.
Akron Zips forward Enrique Freeman dribbles past Toledo Rockets forward Javan Simmons on Feb. 2, 2024.

Akron's Enrique Freeman continues to lead the nation in rebounds per game and is tied for the lead in total double-doubles. The 6-foot-7 senior is averaging 12.9 rebounds per game (283 rebounds in 22 games). Freeman's 19 double-doubles are tied with Western Carolina's Vonterius Woolbright. They have three more double-doubles this season than All-American Zach Edey of Purdue.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips basketball game score vs. Central Michigan live updates