Men’s Hoops Falls Just Short of MAC Title Game

Friday, March 10

Cleveland, Ohio

5:30 p.m.

Ball State University

21-12 (11-7MAC)

Akron

26-7 (14-4MAC)

Ball State

Akron

Photo by: Paul Ferrer

March 10, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score Photo Gallery Post-Game Press Conference

Cardinals fall to top seed Akron despite Tahjai Teague’s career-high 19

CLEVELAND -- The Ball State men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with Mid-American Conference regular season champion Akron all evening, but in the end the Zips survived with a 74-70 victory in Quicken Loans Arena. Akron will play the winner of No. 2 seed Toledo and No. 6 Kent State Saturday night for an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

"I was really proud of our guys' competitive character and their fight," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "We had a chance to win because these guys really fought. I thought they had a real will to win and didn't give up. I'm really disappointed we didn't win because I knew we were more than capable, but I am really proud of the effort of the players on the floor."

Akron (26-7), which has now reached the MAC championship game for the ninth time in 11 seasons, jumped on top of Ball State (21-12) right out of the gates and never trailed. The Zips tallied 13 of the game's first 16 points to bring the mainly pro-Akron crowd to its feet. Akron built a lead as great as 14 late in the first half, 33-19, following an Antino Jackson 3-pointer.

Three-point shooting helped keep Ball State in the game going into intermission. Senior Franko House, redshirt freshman Tahjai Teague and junior Jeremie Tyler all hit shots from behind the arc in the final three minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 39-30.

A thunderous House dunk followed by junior Francis Kiapway's 3-pointer brought Ball State to within two points with 10:31 remaining, 47-45. However, several critical turnovers over the next few minutes allowed Akron to stretch its lead back to 10 points.

Ball State crept back within three points with 2:11 left, 65-62, thanks to Kiapway's fourth 3-pointer. Akron then turned to the MAC Player of the Year, Isaiah Johnson, on its next two possessions for a pair of layups to keep the Cardinals chasing.

Sophomore Tayler Persons, playing one night after having to leave the quarterfinal game with a nasty gash to his head, connected on a deep 3-pointer with 38 ticks left to once again bring Ball State to within three points, 70-67. The Cardinals nearly forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass, but Akron was able to avoid the five-second count. The Zips netted all four free throw attempts in the final 31 seconds to secure the victory.

Six players hit a 3-pointer for Ball State, led by Kiapway with four trifectas. The Cardinals shot 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from behind the arc, tying for the most treys in a conference tournament game in program history.

Teague posted a career-high 19 points to go along with four assists, six rebounds and two steals. Kiapway (12 points) and Tyler (11) also finished in double figures. House added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Johnson and Jackson each recorded 19 points to pace Akron. The Zips shot 51.9 percent (28-fo-54) from the floor and notched 34 points in the paint.

This was the 21st time in 36 MAC Tournament appearances that Ball State has played in the semifinals. The Cardinals were looking to reach the championship game for the first time since 2000.

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