The Zips have won eight in a row and remain alone atop the MAC standings.
Akron’s Tavari Johnson put up an impressive performance with 21 points as his team secured an 80-70 victory over Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference matchup. This win marked the eighth consecutive victory for Akron in conference play.
Johnson showcased his skills by shooting 7 of 11 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and making all 5 of his free-throw attempts. Nate Johnson also made a significant contribution with 19 points, shooting 6 of 12 from the field and adding 6 rebounds and 3 steals to his stat line. Isaiah Gray chipped in with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
On the other side, Quentin Jones led the scoring for Northern Illinois with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. James Dent Jr. also had a strong performance with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kailon Nicholls added 12 points and 4 steals for the Huskies.
Akron led Northern Illinois at the half, 37-33, with Gray (nine points) its high scorer before the break. Akron used a 7-0 second-half run to take the lead at 47-40 with 16:42 left in the half. Tavari Johnson scored 15 second-half points.
First-place Akron plays Friday against rival Kent State on the road, and Northern Illinois visits Toledo on Saturday.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.