Despite career-high scoring performances from guards Tavari Johnson and Shammah Scott on Monday, Nov. 24, the Akron men's basketball team lost to Yale 97-94 in the championship game of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Both teams shot better than 60% from the floor and combined for 20 3-pointers. Yale, though, was a perfect 21-of-21 from the foul line while Akron was just 6-of-9 on free throws. Yale also turned the ball over just seven times compared to 11 Akron turnovers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJohnson and Scott helped the Zips (5-2) erase a double-digit lead late in the first half to eventually tie the game late in second half before Yale (6-1) pulled out the win.
Johnson scored a game-high 35 points to go with eight assists, while Scott scored 25 points. Amani Lyles added 12 points and two steals. Eric Mahaffey grabbed a game-high seven rebounds for the Zips.
Scott hit five 3-pointers, as the Zips shot 12-of-23 on 3s. They made eight of their 3s in the second half.
Akron guard Tavari Johnson, making a layup last season, scored a career-high 35 points Monday night.Yale led 44-31 before Akron cut its deficit to 46-37 by halftime. Yale maintained its lead throughout the second half and was up 78-70 before Akron rallied. The Zips used a 10-2 run to tie the game 80-80 with 5:02 remaining.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYale's Trevor Mullin answered with a 3-pointer to reclaim the lead. Riley Fox followed with back-to-back 3s to push Yale ahead 89–84. The Zips hit a 3 to stay within striking distance. Nick Townsend added a layup and Yale's lead was 91–89 before Mullin went 6-for-6 from the foul line down the stretch to seal Yale's victory.
The Zips had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a 3-pointer rattled out and time expired as the Zips tried to collect the rebound.
Isaac Celiscar led Yale with 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and 7-of-7 from the foul line. He scored 12 of his points in the first half. Townsend finished with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with 10 assists and six rebounds.
Townsend was named the tournament MVP after averaging 22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists in Yale's three wins.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Zips scored 90-plus points in all three games during the tournament. They reached the title game with decisive wins over Iona (96-75) on Nov. 21 and Evansville (97-59) on Nov. 23.
Akron returns to home to host the Milwaukee Panthers 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29.
The Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Akron basketball score in Paradise Jam title game, Yale holds off Zips
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