Akron Zips men's basketball vs. Kent State: Zips earn sweep of Wagon Wheel rivalry series

The University of Akron men's basketball team earned a regular-season sweep Friday night in its Wagon Wheel rivalry series against visiting Kent State University.

The Zips prevailed 83-70 in front of a sellout crowd at Rhodes Arena.

KSU was unable to avenge its 77-71 home loss to UA on Jan. 19 and strengthen its candidacy for a Mid-American Conference Tournament berth.

Akron (20-7, 12-2 in the MAC) entered Friday tied with Toledo (17-10, 11-3) atop the conference standings but moved into sole possession of first place with its triumph over Kent State and Toledo's 76-68 loss at Bowling Green.

Kent State (13-14, 6-8) headed into Friday tied for sixth in the MAC standings with Miami (12-14, 6-7) and Western Michigan (9-17, 6-7), but the Golden Flashes fell to eighth after losing to the Zips.

The top eight teams in the MAC earn conference tournament berths. The winner of the MAC tourney receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UA and KSU have four regular-season games remaining after their most recent clash. Both teams were coming off a defeat Tuesday, with Akron falling 72-64 at Toledo and Kent State losing 63-57 at Ohio.

Akron bounced back in resounding fashion.

Tipoff occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Here are updates from the game.

Below is some information about the second half.

Akron matches its largest lead of the game in the final three minutes

Senior guard Ali Ali made a layup with 2:15 left, giving Akron a 77-66 cushion and leading Kent State to call timeout.

The 11-point lead matched Akron's largest of the game, and the Zips extended their advantage as they cruised to the finish line.

Senior forward Enrique Freeman led the Zips with a double-double, posting 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Akron star Enrique Freeman punishes Kent State with two key 3-pointers

Enrique Freeman is a force in the MAC, and whenever he is discussed as a professional prospect, the conversation includes something about his need to develop an outside shot.

UA had to be pleased when he made a 3-pointer to give it a 70-59 lead with 5:01 left and another 3 to give it a 73-63 lead with 3:21 left.

Freeman entered the game with 12 successful 3-pointers this season. He made just one 3-pointer last season.

Akron leads Kent State 67-59 with 5:15 left in second half

Every time Kent State presented a legitimate threat, Akron answered.

It happened repeatedly, including with 6:08 left in the second half. Enrique Freeman produced a three-point play to give UA a 67-57 advantage. KSU graduate-student guard Tyem Freeman was called for a foul during the play, even though a replay showed he didn't touch Enrique Freeman on his layup.

Akron Zips respond to rally by Kent State Golden Flashes

Akron went on an 8-0 run after Kent State cut the Zips' lead to two points with 11:07 left in the second half.

After KSU graduate-student forward Chris Payton Jr. and UA senior guard Greg Tribble traded three-point plays, Tribble stole the ball from Kent State sophomore guard Reggie Bass and made a fast-break layup with 10:28 remaining.

Then senior wing Mikal Dawson made a 3-pointer with 9:22 left to give Akron a 58-48 lead.

Tribble finished with 15 points, four rebounds and three steals. Dawson and Ali scored 14 points apiece.

Kent State hanging around about midway through the second half vs. Akron

Akron led 50-45 during a media timeout with 11:24 left in the second half.

KSU junior guard Jalen Sullinger made a contested jump shot to reduce Akron's advantage to 50-45 with 11:52 remaining.

Senior guard Giovanni Santiago had a four-point play to cut KSU's deficit to 46-40 with 13:54 left.

Sullinger scored a team-high 20 points. Payton added a double-double for Kent State, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward VonCameron Davis had 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals for KSU, and Santiago contributed 12 points and four assists.

Akron makes back-to-back 3-pointers to take its largest lead of the game vs. Kent State

With 15:40 and 16:01 left in the first half, respectively, senior forward Sammy Hunter and Dawson made 3-pointers for the Zips.

The sequence gave Akron a 43-32 lead and prompted a Kent State timeout with 15:38 left in the second half. UA's 11-point advantage was its largest of the game.

Below is some information about the first half.

Akron leads Kent State 32-27 at halftime

Tribble put an exclamation on the first half by stealing the ball from Sullinger and throwing down a fast-break dunk with 33 seconds left before halftime.

The basket off the turnover allowed Akron to capture a 32-27 lead, which remained the score at halftime.

In the first half, Akron shot 13 of 29 from the floor, including 2 of 11 on 3-pointers. Kent State shot 11 of 30 from the field, including 5 of 13 on 3-pointers. UA finished 30-of-60 shooting from the floor, including 8 of 21 on 3-pointers. KSU was 27-of-57 shooting, including 9 of 21 on 3s.

Santiago and Sullinger led KSU with eight points apiece in the first half.

Enrique Freeman led Akron with eight points and five rebounds in the first half, followed by Tribble's seven points.

Akron led by as many as 10 points in the first half. UA outscored KSU 20-12 in the paint before halftime and 40-34 in the game.

Kent State uses 3-pointers to remain in striking distance vs. Akron

Tyem Freeman made a 3-pointer to cut Akron's lead to 25-24 with 2:38 left in the first half. Tyem Freeman made the shot in transition after a steal by Davis.

Earlier, Sullinger and Santiago made 3-pointers with 5:37 and 7 minutes remaining in the first half, respectively.

Akron seizes momentum midway through the first half vs. Kent State

Akron went ahead 17-9 and compelled Kent State coach Rob Senderoff to call timeout with 9:33 left in the first half.

Tribble made a 3-pointer, followed by Enrique Freeman's putback on UA's next possession.

After KSU's timeout and a turnover by the Golden Flashes, Enrique Freeman made a short hook shot to give UA a 19-9 lead with 8:55 left in the first half.

Akron football team flexes with Wagon Wheel

During a media timeout with 11:56 left in the first half, Akron football players and coach Joe Moorhead strolled onto the floor with the Wagon Wheel they capture with a 31-27 win over Kent State on Nov. 1.

At the time, the UA hoops team led 10-7, and Enrique Freeman made two free throws coming out of the stoppage to extend the Zips' lead to 12-7.

Kent State fights back after falling in hole early vs. Akron

Kent State rallied after trailing 8-2 to begin the game.

KSU cut its deficit to 8-7 when Santiago made a 3-pointer on an assist from Payton with 13:39 left in the first half.

Zips earn 8-2 lead vs. Golden Flashes early in the first half

Akron led Kent State 8-2 during the first media timeout with 15:42 left in the first half.

Hunter made a layup on UA's first possession and quickly scored four points. He finished with seven.

KSU was cold out of the gate. The Golden Flashes started 1-of-5 shooting from the field, with their lone make a dunk by junior center Cli'Ron Hornbeak on KSU's first possession.

What is the series history between Akron and Kent State men's basketball?

The all-time series is tied 82-82, but Akron has won 21 of the last 36 meetings.

The last time a team earned a season sweep in the series was when Akron did it in 2020-21.

UA is 46-25 at home against KSU.

More Akron Zips men's basketball: 'This is really cool': UA has made a 3-pointer in 762 straight games

How can I watch, stream or listen to Akron Zips vs. Kent State Golden Flashes basketball?

The game was televised on CBS Sports Network. It was broadcast via the radio on WKNR (850-AM) and WHLO (640-AM).

How Akron entered rematch vs. KSU: Zips men's basketball drops into first-place tie in MAC with loss at Toledo

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips men's basketball beats Kent State in Wagon Wheel rivalry