Akron Zips men's basketball stunned in loss to Eastern Michigan
The University of Akron men's basketball team would have been able to check a couple of significant boxes Tuesday night if the Zips were to defeat Eastern Michigan at Rhodes Arena.
Instead, Akron suffered a heartbreaking, upset loss to Eastern Michigan, falling 61-60 in the penultimate regular-season game for both teams.
Akron missed chances to clinch at least a share of the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and finish he season with an undefeated record at home.
The last time UA won a regular-season MAC title was 2020. The last time the Zips went undefeated at home for an entire season was 2015-16, when they were 15-0 at Rhodes Arena.
Entering Tuesday night's game, Akron (21-9, 13-4) sat atop the MAC standings and was a game ahead of Toledo. But Toledo (19-11, 13-4) moved into a tie for first with a 97-63 win over Miami and Akron's loss.
After the letdown to Eastern Michigan (13-17, 6-11), the Zips will visit Western Michigan (11-19, 8-9) on Friday for their regular-season finale.
College basketball column: If huge upset doesn't awaken Akron Zips men's team, nothing will
Tipoff between Akron and Eastern Michigan occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here are updates from throughout the game.
Below is some information about the second half.
Eastern Michigan stuns Akron Zips with Jalin Billingsley's ferocious putback
Eastern Michigan freshman guard Arne Osojnik missed a 3-pointer, but junior forward Jalin Billingsley used his left hand to throw down a ferocious putback dunk. The highlight gave Eastern Michigan a 61-60 lead with two seconds left.
The Zips then threw the ball out of bounds while trying to inbound for a last-second desperation shot. The moment proved to be fitting because Akron committed 15 turnovers.
The Zips caught a break when junior forward Yusuf Jihad missed two free throws with 1:25 left. The only problem was Akron senior guard Greg Tribble missed two free throws of his own with 1:02 remaining.
Then Tribble was called for a foul on sophomore guard Orlando Lovejoy with 47.5 seconds left. Lovejoy made both free throws to cut Akron's lead to 60-59.
On the next possession, Akron senior forward Enrique Freeman lost the ball while being double-teamed in the post.
Eastern Michigan and Akron both called timeouts with 8.4 seconds left. Then Billingsley's game-wining putback stunned the Zips.
Billingsley led Eastern Michigan with 14 points. Freeman led Akron with game highs in points (15) and rebounds (13).
Akron takes late lead. Can Zips hang on?
The Zips went ahead 60-57 when senior wing Mikal Dawson made a 3-pointer with 2:20 left.
Freeman had an assist on the play. With 2:38 left, Freeman split a pair of foul shots in a one-and-one situation to tie the score.
Akron leads Eastern Michigan with less than four minutes left
Tribble provided a three-point lead with 7:10 left and a successful floater in the lane with 5:36 remaining.
The Zips led 56-55 during a media timeout with 3:47 left to play.
Coming out of the timeout, Eastern Michigan took a 57-56 lead when Osojnik made two of three foul shots.
Akron Zips rally and Nate Johnson leaves game after being shaken up
After an 11-4 run by Akron, the score was tied 51-51 with 8:07 left in the second half.
Zips redshirt sophomore Nate Johnson left the game then after being shaken up. It was not clear what Johnson hurt, but this was his third game back from a broken hand.
With 2:38 left in the second half, Johnson returned to the game.
Akron Zips trail by five points with 11:25 left to play
With 11:25 left in the first half, Akron trailed Eastern Michigan 47-42 during a media timeout.
Redshirt freshman guard Ryan Prather Jr. gave the Zips a spark with a three-point play and a layup. Then sophomore guard Tavari Johnson cut Eastern Michigan's lead to 47-42 by making a driving layup with 11:50 remaining.
Eastern Michigan puts Akron on upset alert by taking 41-33 lead with 15:48 left in the second half
Eastern Michigan outscored Akron 16-6 to begin the second half and seized a 41-33 lead with 15:50 remaining.
Osojnik made a 3-pointer to give Eastern Michigan the eight-point advantage and prompt UA to call timeout with 15:48 left.
Below is some information about the first half.
Akron leads Eastern Michigan men's basketball 27-25 at halftime
UA will want to forget the first half. It was ugly.
Still, the Zips led 27-25 at halftime after senior guard Ali Ali drove for a layup just before the buzzer.
The nasty part? UA committed 11 turnovers in the first half, and Eastern Michigan scored 10 points off those miscues.
Freeman led Akron with 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half. Ali added eight points.
Junior forward Connor Serven led Eastern Michigan with seven points in the first half.
Akron shot 10-of-22 from the field (45.5%) in the first half. Eastern Michigan shot 11-of-32 from the field (34.4%) in the first half.
Despite sloppy play, Akron leads Eastern Michigan 23-18 with 3:08 left before halftime
The Zips committed nine turnovers in the first 17 minutes of the game, leading to eight Eastern Michigan points.
But UA led 23-18 during a media timeout with 3:08 left before halftime.
The Zips' defense was the primary reason. Eastern Michigan made just eight of its first 28 field-goal attempts (28.6%).
Eastern Michigan goes ahead with less than eight minutes left in the first half
During a possession in which Eastern Michigan collected multiple offensive rebounds, Akron's Nate Johnson grabbed the ball under the basket but tossed it back to the paint as his momentum carried him out of bounds.
Jihad grabbed the ball and made a layup, giving Eastern Michigan a 16-14 lead and prompting Akron coach John Groce to call timeout with 7:36 left in the first half.
Eastern Michigan cuts Akron's lead to 12-11 close to midway through the first half
Serven made a layup to trim Eastern Michigan's deficit to 12-11 with 12:11 left in the first half.
The score remained the same during the second media timeout with 11:42 remaining.
Eastern Michigan had a shot-clock violation right before the stoppage in play, and Akron was called for traveling coming out of the timeout.
Akron leads 12-6 with 13:56 left in the first half
After Eastern Michigan scored first, Akron went on an 8-0 run.
The scoring burst allowed Akron to lead 10-6 during the first media timeout with 13:56 remaining in the first half.
Freeman had six points at that point.
Coming out of the media timeout, Ali made two of three foul shots to give Akron a 12-6 lead.
Below is some pregame information.
How can I watch, stream or listen to the Akron Zips vs. Eastern Michigan men's basketball game
The game was available on ESPN+. It was broadcast locally on the Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO (640-AM).
When is the MAC men's basketball tournament?
The MAC Tournament is scheduled for March 14-16 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland.
Left out of March Madness?: Akron's John Groce and Kent State's Rob Senderoff agree changed NIT format not ideal for MAC
What is the history between Akron Zips men's basketball and Eastern Michigan?
Akron now leads its all-time series against Eastern Michigan 37-24.
The Zips have won 27 of the past 34 meetings, but they had a six-game winning streak in the series snapped. They are now 20-10 against Eastern Michigan in Akron.
Earlier this season, UA prevailed 77-46 on Jan. 30 at Eastern Michigan.
Akron Zips basketball news: Here's what UA must do to enter MAC Tournament mode the right way
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 suffers upset loss to Eastern Michigan
