Akron Zips men's basketball snaps 3-game losing streak with home win vs. Bradley
The University of Akron men's basketball team ended its three-game losing streak Tuesday night at Rhodes Arena.
Akron defeated visiting Bradley 67-52 in a nonconference showdown. The Zips are now 3-0 at home.
UA's drought began after it started this season 4-0. Then the Zips lost 65-62 to Utah State on Nov. 20 and 79-59 to Drake on Nov. 21 during the Cayman Islands Classic Basketball Tournament in addition to falling 72-70 to host UNLV on Nov. 28.
Like Akron, Bradley hoped to enter bounce-back mode. After starting this season 6-0, Bradley has lost its past three games — 79-72 at Murray State on Nov. 29, 85-77 to visiting Indiana State on Dec. 2 and 67-52 at Akron.
Akron (5-3) and Bradley (6-3) have had one common opponent this season: Utah State. UA lost to Utah State by three points and Bradley defeated Utah State 72-66 at home on Nov. 11.
The Zips capitalized on home-court advantage in their first game at Rhodes Arena since Nov. 14. Under coach John Groce, UA is now 39-1 at home against nonconference opponents and has a 28-game winning streak in such games.
UA senior forward Enrique Freeman had a monster game, compiling 21 points, 18 rebounds, four blocked shots, four steals and two assists.
Here is how Akron's win unfolded:
Mikal Dawson, Kaleb Thornton extend Akron men's basketball lead over Bradley
Kaleb Thornton makes a 3-pointer with 4:18 to go in the second half to give Akron a 59-47 lead over Bradley.
Mikal Dawson with a steal and layup with 5:37 to go to give Akron a 56-46 lead over Bradley.
Akron's Sammy Hunter makes two free throws.
Akron's Enrique Freeman picks up fourth foul in second half against Bradley
Enrique Freeman picks up his fourth foul with 7:17 to go in the second half.
Akron leads 52-46.
Freeman has 19 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists.
Akron surges ahead of Bradley men's basketball in second half
Akron compiles an 11-0 run and leads 52-44 with 8:41 to go in the second half.
Kaleb Thornton makes a 3-pointer, Enrique Freeman makes a layup and a hook shot and Greg Tribble drops in two layups for the Zips.
Thornton's 3 came after Freeman tapped the ball out to Thornton.
Bradley leads Akron men's basketball 44-41 in second half
Almar Atlason makes a 3-ponter and Darius Hannah drops in a layup to give Bradley a 44-41 lead.
Akron calls timeout with 11:41 to go in the second half.
Atlason and Duke Deen both have 11 points for Bradley.
Akron men's basketball leads Bradley 37-35 in second half
Senior Enrique Freeman makes two free throws with 16:40 left in the second half to give Akron a 35-33 lead. He shot 1 of 6 from the free throw line in the first half.
Duke Deen of Bradley make a jumper and senior Sammy Hunter counters with a layup to give the Zips a 37-35 lead.
Timeout on the floor with 15:56 to go in the second half.
Enrique Freeman records double-double in Akron men's basketball game against Bradley
Akron senior Enrique Freeman has reached a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the first minute of the second half.
Shammah Scott makes a 3-pointer to give Akron a 33-31 lead.
Timeout Bradley with 17:31 to go in the second half.
Akron trails by one point at halftime after buzzer-beater by Bradley
The first half ended with great back-to-back plays.
With about six seconds left in the half, Akron took a 28-26 lead on a putback dunk by senior forward Enrique Freeman off a driving lay up attempt by senior guard Greg Tribble.
Then senior guard Duke Deen banked in a 3-pointer from near half court at the buzzer to give Bradley a 29-28 halftime lead.
Freeman led all scorers at halftime with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field and 1 of 6 shooting from the foul line. He also had nine rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
Senior forward Malevy Leons and Deen led Bradley in first-half scoring with seven points apiece.
Akron and Bradley tied 26-26 late in the first half
With 1:32 left before halftime, Akron sophomore guard Nate Johnson made a wide-open 3-pointer from the right wing off an assist from senior guard Greg Tribble. The shot tied the score 26-26.
Free throws giving Akron Zips and Bradley trouble
Akron senior forward Enrique Freeman is in the midst of a strong first half, but free throws are proving to be problematic for the Zips standout. He is 1 of 6 from the foul line, and the Zips trail 26-23 with 3:36 remaining in the first half. Freeman has shot all of UA's free throws thus far.
Meanwhile, Bradley is 2 of 6 on foul shots.
Akron Zips allow three consecutive layups during Bradley run
After trailing 16-8, Bradley went on a 6-0 run by taking advantage of layups by junior forward Darius Hannah, senior forward Malevy Leons and junior guard/forward Christian Davis. Freshman forward Almar Atlason exploited Akron's defense with a driving dunk to cut the Zips' lead to 20-16 with 8:21 left in the first half.
During the third media timeout with 7:51 left in the first half, Akron led 20-19. Bradley then went ahead 21-20 with a layup by senior guard Duke Deen.
Akron Zips guard Greg Tribble shaken up but remains in the game
UA senior guard Greg Tribble was shaken up on the baseline under the Zips' basket with 13:50 left in the first half, but Tribble remained in the game.
Tribble also had an assist on the same play. Senior wing Mikal Dawson capitalized on the pass with a successful 3-pointer to give UA an 11-7 lead.
At the second media timeout of the game, UA had extended its lead to 16-8 with 11:56 remaining in the first half.
Akron Zips senior forward Enrique Freeman gets off to hot start
The Zips led 8-5 with 15:29 left in the first half on the strength of senior forward Enrique Freeman's hot start.
In less than five minutes, Freeman compiled five points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
Here are the 10 starters for Akron vs. Bradley basketball
The Zips started guards Shammah Scott, Greg Tribble and Nate Johnson along with forwards Sammy Hunter and Enrique Freeman.
Bradley started guards Emarion Ellis and Duke Deen, center Ahmet "Meta" Jonovic and forwards Malevy Leons and Darius Hannah.
Below is some pregame information about Akron and Bradley.
Who are the Akron Zips' top men's basketball players this season?
Entering Tuesday's game, senior forward Enrique Freeman, senior wing Mikal Dawson and senior forward Sammy Hunter led Akron in scoring.
Freeman averaged 17.3 points on 55.4% shooting from the field and 11.9 rebounds. Dawson averaged 11.1 points on 40.9% shooting and three rebounds. Hunter averaged 11 points on 43.5% shooting and three rebounds.
Who are Bradley's best men's basketball players in 2023-24?
Like UA, Bradley had three players who were averaging double-digit scoring heading into Tuesday's game.
They were graduate-student forward Malevy Leons (15.6 ppg, 45.3% shooting from the field, 7.3 rebounds), junior guard Connor Hickman (13.5 ppg, 45.3%, 2.9 rebounds) and senior forward Darius Hannah (12.5 ppg, 65.7%, 7.4 rebounds).
What is the history between the Akron Zips and Bradley in college basketball?
The Akron and Bradley men's basketball teams met for the first time last season, and the visiting Zips lost 74-55 on Dec. 22.
Looking ahead at Akron Zips men's basketball schedule
After UA's game against Bradley, the Zips will visit Northern Kentucky for a 7 p.m. Saturday tipoff.
Akron is scheduled to play four more opponents, not counting Bradley but including Northern Kentucky, before it begins the Mid-American Conference portion of its schedule Jan. 2 at Northern Illinois.
The Bradley basketball team will return to Akron later this season
Bradley will return to Akron to face Duquesne on Dec. 18 at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School's The LeBron James Arena.
Former Akron Zips and STVM state championship-winning coach Keith Dambrot is the head coach of Duquesne.
More 2023-24 Akron Zips men's basketball coverage
Is Akron's Ali Ali eligible for season?: Akron Zips coach John Groce says NCAA made 'wrong decision' by keeping player on bench
Zips legend Bill Turner dies: Reflecting on a former NBA player who is a strong candidate for Akron's basketball Mount Rushmore
How can I watch, stream or listen to the Akron Zips vs. Bradley men's basketball game?
The game will be available on ESPN+. It will also be broadcast locally on the Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO (640-AM).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips men's basketball snaps losing skid against Bradley
