TAMPA, Fla. — The Akron Zips men’s basketball team hoped to finally dance a little longer. Instead, UA fell 91-71 to Texas Tech in a first-round Midwest Region game on Friday, March 20.
Akron returned to the NCAA Tournament for eighth time during its Division I era, which began with the 1980-81 season. UA has gone 0-8 (1986, 2009, ’11, ’13, ’22, ’24, ’25 and ’26).
After three-peating as the Mid-American Conference Tournament champion, 12th-seeded Akron (29-6, 17-1 MAC) could not end its March Madness drought against No. 5 Texas Tech (23-10, 12-6 Big 12).
Akron was the underdog, yet Texas Tech appeared to be vulerable without its best player, forward JT Toppin, who suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Feb. 17.
Here is how Akron versus Texas Tech unfolded through our updates from Benchmark International Arena.
Akron loses 91-71 to Texas Tech
Akron scored its most points in an NCAA Division I Tournament game, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Akron forward Amani Lyles became UA’s single-game scorer in Division I NCAA Tournament history with a game-high 26 points. Akron guard Shammah Scott had 20 points. And Zips point guard Tavari Johnson became the program’s record holder for assists in a season. He had six against Texas Tech.
Akron cut Texas Tech’s lead to five points with 6:53 left, but the Red Raiders used a 15-2 run to bury the Zips.
Texas Tech guards Jaylen Petty and Christian Anderson scored 24 and 18 points, respectively. The Red Raiders had five players finish with double figures in scoring compared with two Zips players.
Akron is behind Texas Tech 82-66 with 3 minutes left
Akron trailed Texas Tech 82-66 during a media timeout with 3 minutes remaining.
Akron trailed 69-64 when Zips forward Amani Lyles made a layup, but Texas Tech then went on a 13-2 run.
Lyles has been a bright spot for Akron. He has 22 points at this stage of the game, surpassing Zips legend Enrique Freeman’s previous program record for points in a Division I NCAA Tournament game. Freeman scored 21 points against Creighton two years ago.
Zips trail Red Raiders 77-64 with 4:51 left in the second half
Akron knew it needed to perform well in the realms of rebounding and turnovers.
One sequence proved the theory to be true. Forward Josiah Moseley scored on a putback, and guard Jaylen Petty turned an Akron turnover into a dunk. As a result, the Zips fell behind 77-64 with 4:51 remaining.
Texas Tech builds 73-64 advantage over Akron with 5:29 left in the second half
It looked like Akron guard Eric Mahaffey had a clean block against Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson on a fast-break layup, but the officials whistled Mahaffey for a foul. Anderson made two free throws, and the Red Raiders went ahead 73-64 with 6:07 left.
The score remained the same when Texas Tech called timeout with 5:29 left.
Akron is in striking distance, trailing Texas Tech 66-60 with 7:57 left in the second half
Zips guard Eric Mahaffey made a vital play for Akron with 9:42 left in the second half. He tipped in a missed 3-pointer by guard Shammah Scott and drew a foul from Texas Tech forward LeJuan Watts. It was Watts’ fifth foul, so he fouled out, and Mahaffey made the ensuing free throw to cut Texas Tech’s lead to 64-60.
Akron trailed 66-60 during a media timeout with 7:57 remaining.
Scott and Akron forward Amani Lyles have 20 points apiece. It’s the first time in Division I NCAA Tournament history the Zips have had two players score 20-plus points.
Akron cuts Texas Tech’s lead to 59-53 with 11:55 left in the second half
Akron forward Amani Lyles made a pair of free throws with 11:55 left in the second half, and UA cut Texas Tech’s lead to 59-53.
On the previous possession, Lyles blocked a jump shot attempted by Texas Tech guard Jaylen Petty, who is tied with guard Donovan Atwell as the Red Raiders’ leading scorer at 13 points.
Lyles has 16 points for Akron, which is led by guard Shammah Scott’s 20 points off the bench.
Akron trails Texas Tech 52-43 with 15:07 left in the second half
Akron has steadied itself after Texas Tech went on an 8-0 run to open the second half. The Zips trailed 52-43 with during a media timeout 15:07 left.
Guard Shammah Scott has continued to excel for the Zips, scoring four of his 17 points in the early stages of the second half. Forward LeJuan Watts is giving Akron problems on the defensive end, though. Watts had six of his 12 points in the first five minutes of the first half.
Akron coach John Groce calls timeout less than a minute into the second half after Texas Tech takes 46-35 lead
Akron coach John Groce knows his team cannot slack on perimeter defense if it’s going to have a legitimate chance to upset sharpshooting Texas Tech.
It’s why Groce called timeout with 19:05 left in the second half. The Zips left the Red Raiders wide open for two 3-pointers coming out of halftime, and guards Jaylen Petty and Donovan Atwell drained them to give Texas Tech a 46-35 cushion.
Akron Zips trail Texas Tech Red Raiders 40-35 at halftime
Akron trailed Texas Tech 40-35 at halftime.
The Zips fell behind by 12 points but then rallied with a 10-3 run to end the first half.
Wing Evan Mahaffey’s 3-pointer off a steal at the buzzer hit the rim and missed. A make would have cut Texas Tech’s halftime edge to two points.
The scene perfectly illustrated how Akron fought throughout the first half despite many of its shots not falling. UA went 13-of-33 shooting (39.4%) from the field (4 of 11 on 3s, 36.4%) compared with Texas Tech going 15-of-26 shooting (57.5%) from the floor (6 of 11 on 3s, 54.5%).
Guard Shammah Scott led the Zips with 13 points in the first half, followed by forward Amani Lyles with 12.
Texas Tech guards Jaylen Petty (10 points) and Donovan Atwell (nine points) paced the Red Raiders in the first half.
Zips coach John Groce smacked the scorer’s table and smiled after UA star point guard Tavari Johnson missed a driving layup and Lyles couldn’t convert on a putback with 15.1 seconds left. Groce had watched Akron miss many high-percentage shots. Lyles was fouled during the play and split a pair of free throws to trim Texas Tech’s advantage to 40-35.
Texas Tech outrebounded Akron 20-16 in the first half, but the Zips won the turnover battle 7-3.
Akron falls behind 37-25 with 3:56 left in the first half amid Texas Tech’s 8-0 run
Akron cut Texas Tech’s lead to 29-25 when wing Evan Mahaffey dunked on an assist from forward Amani Lyles with 5:43 left in the first half.
However, Texas Tech proceeded to go on an 8-0 run and seize a 37-25 advantage when Christian Anderson made a layup in transition with 3:58 remaining. The score remained the same during a media timeout with 3:56 left.
Texas Tech leads Akron 29-22 with 6:09 left before halftime
Akron wing Evan Mahaffey made a floater with 6:31 left in the first half, slicing Texas Tech’s lead to 29-22.
The Zips need more plays like Mahaffey’s. They haven’t been efficient in the paint thus far.
Akron Zips face 24-16 deficit vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders with 9:03 left in the first half
After Akron guard Shammah Scott cut UA’s deficit to one point, Texas Tech doubled down on its answer.
Red Raiders guards Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell drained back-to-back 3s, putting Texas Tech ahead 24-16. The score remained the same during a Texas Tech timeout with 9:03 remaining in the first half.
Texas Tech is 9-of-15 shooting from the field (5 of 7 on 3s). Akron is 6-of-17 shooting from the floor (3 of 4 on 3s).
The Zips seem to be affected by the Red Raiders’ size because UA has missed a number of shots in the paint.
Texas Tech leads Akron men’s basketball team 18-14 with 11:02 left in the first half
Despite a slow start on the offensive end of the floor, Akron is going toe to toe with Texas Tech, trailing 18-14 with 11:02 left in the first half.
Guard Shammah Scott has given Akron the spark off the bench it has come to expect from the two-time MAC Sixth Man of the Year. Scott leads Akron at this juncture with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.
The problem for Akron, though, is Texas Tech has repeatedly answered Scott’s firepower with 3-pointers. Red Raiders guards Donovan Atwell and Jaylen Petty made back-to-back 3s, helping put the Zips in an 18-12 hole.
Scott then made a driving layup, cutting Akron’s deficit to 18-14.
Akron Zips trail Texas Tech 6-3 with 15:10 left in the first half
The Zips have missed several layups and floaters. They trailed 6-3 during a media timeout with 15:10 remaining in the first half.
After falling behind 4-0, Akron cut Texas Tech’s lead to a point when UA forward Amani Lyles made a 3-pointer from the left wing with 16:50 left in the first half.
At this early stage of the game, Akron is 1-of-8 shooting from the field (1 of 1 on 3s). Texas Tech is 3-of-5 shooting from the field and has not attempted a 3.
Texas Tech has a 7-2 rebounding advantage, and Red Raiders forward LeJuan Watts has four points.
Below is some pregame information.
Who will the winner of Akron vs. Texas Tech face in the second round of the NCAA Tournament?
The winner of the Akron-Texas Tech game will advance to face either No. 4 Alabama (23-9) or No. 13 Hofstra (24-10) in the second round on Sunday, March 22.
Akron’s starters vs. Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s starters vs. Akron
What is the history between Akron and Texas Tech basketball?
Akron and Texas Tech have never previously played each other.
Did Akron and Texas Tech have any common opponents this season?
Akron and Texas Tech played Purdue and Milwaukee this season.
Akron lost 97-79 on Nov. 16 at Purdue and won 105-81 on Nov. 29 at Milwaukee.
Texas Tech lost 86-56 on Nov. 22 against Purdue after prevailing 80-63 on Nov. 14 against Milwaukee.
What is the NCAA Tournament men’s basketball history for games between No. 5 seeds and No. 12 seeds?
Since the NCAA Tournament field expanded in 1985, No. 5 seeds have gone 104-58 against No. 12 seeds.
On March 19, No. 5 Vanderbilt beat No. 12 McNeese 78-68, and No. 12 High Point upset No. 5 Wisconsin 83-82.
Akron Zips basketball history in NCAA Tournament
How can I watch, listen, stream Akron Zips vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders today in NCAA Tournament?
Akron versus Texas Tech will be televised by truTV. The national radio broadcast will be on Westwood One, and the local radio broadcast will be on WHLO (640-AM).
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips basketball score, updates vs Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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