03/14/26 09:53:00
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03/14 21:48 CDT Scott's deep 3-point bomb sends Akron past Toledo, 79-76 for
3rd straight MAC crown
Scott's deep 3-point bomb sends Akron past Toledo, 79-76 for 3rd straight MAC
crown
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Reserve Shammah Scott scored 12 points and his 25-foot,
3-point basket with six seconds left helped Akron to a 79-76 win over Toledo in
the Mid-American Conference title game on Saturday.
Austin Parks' desperation 3-point attempt for Toledo bounced off the back of
the rim and fell to the floor as time expired.
Amani Lyles scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, Tavari Johnson scored 15
and Bowen Hardman 12 for Akron (29-5).
Leroy Blyden Jr. scored 21 points, Parks and reserve Kyle Vanderjagt scored 13
apiece and Sean Craig 10.
Toledo appeared poised to knock off the conference's second-best regular season
team --- after Miami, Ohio --- by building a 42-30 halftime lead.
The Rockets built their lead on the strength of 53% (17 of 32) shooting
including 53% (8 of 15) from 3-point range.
But Akron regrouped early in the second half and outscored Toledo 21-6 in a
7-minute span --- which also included a 15-0 run --- and turned a 48-36 deficit
into a 57-54 lead with 10:17 remaining.
In earning the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth, the No. 2-seed
Zips earned their third-straight tournament championship and fourth in its last
five years.
It's the first time a MAC program has earned three-straight conference
championships.
Toledo made its eighth MAC championship game with its lone win in 1980.
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