Cleveland, OH—-In the MAC Mid-American Conference Tournament, #1 seeded Akron Zips will advance to face the #2 seeded Miami (OH) Redhawks in MAC Mid-American Conference Finals.
In the first semifinal matchup between the Akron Zips (26-6) and the Toledo Rockets (18-14). Zips Guard Nate Johnson led the way with 31 points in a 100-90 victory over the Rockets.
Johnson had an efficient offensive performance shooting 10-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line for the Zips.
Guards Isaiah Gray and Tavari Johnson also had strong performances, both scoring 15 points each. Off the bench for the Zips, Guard Shammah Scott scored 14 points and Forward Amani Lyles scored 11 points as the Zips shot 56% as a team and 10-for-18 shooting from 3-point range for the game.
For the Rockets, Guard Seth Hubbard led the team with 28 points off the bench shooting 8-for-14 from the field 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. Rockets guard Sam Lewis also contributed with 23 points shooting 6-for-12 from the field, 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
Rockets Forward Javan Simmons had 18 points and Guard Sonny Wilson had 16 points in the losing effort.
Zips Guard Nate Johnson had a hot start, scoring 17 points in the first half to help Akron take a 52-41 lead into the half. Early in the 2nd half, the Rockets cut the lead to six points but the scoring tandem of Zips Guards Johnson and Johnson (Nate and Tavari) along with Isaiah Gray, Shammah Scott and Amani Lyles was too much as the Zips maintained a nine point lead throughout the second half to secure the victory over the Rockets
