The Akron Zips males’s basketball workforce concluded the 2023-24 season with a 77-60 loss to Creighton on Thursday afternoon in a Midwest Area first-round recreation in Pittsburgh. Akron, the No. 14 seed within the event, made its sixth look in March Insanity. No. 3 seed Creighton (24-9) entered the event ranked eleventh by the coaches.
The 24-11 Zips — led by honorable point out All-American ahead Enrique Freeman — had been searching for their first-ever NCAA Match win. 4 gamers who began for the 2022 Akron NCAA Match workforce performed Thursday and helped the Zips to early leads earlier than the Bluejays pulled away within the second half.
Right here is how the sport unfolded via our reside updates:
Akron vs. Creighton reside rating updates in NCAA first spherical
Creighton information 77-60 win over Akron in Pittsburgh
Creighton sophomore Steven Ashworth and Akron senior received tousled with 1:23 to go within the second half. Ashworth fell the ground, Hunter provided his hand to assist him up and Ashworth declined.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA event brackets, scores, schedules, groups and extra.
The refs reviewed the play. Hunter known as for a flagrant 1 foul. Ashworth makes two free throws.
Akron seniors Enrique Freeman, Greg Tribble Jr. and Sammy Hunter all sub out and hug Akron coach John Groce.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott additionally subs out starters.
Freeman completed with 21 factors and 14 rebounds.
Akron senior Ali Ali fouled out with 2:59 to go within the second half as he tried to seize an offensive rebound. He completed with 14 factors, two rebounds and two assists.
Creighton maintains double-digit lead over Akron in second half
Creighton senior Ryan Kalkbrenner tossed down a two-hand slam dunk to present the Bluejays a 70-53 with 5:43 left within the second half.
Akron countered with 5 factors as senior Ali Ali made a jumper in paint and senior Sammy Hunter swished a 3-pointer with 4:01 to go within the second half to trim the Zips deficit to 70-58.
Creighton extends lead over Akron with Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner in key roles
Junior Trey Alexander scored on a reverse layup with 10:24 to go within the second half and made two free throws at 9:37 to to present Creighton a 67-47 lead — its largest of the day.
Alexander and senior Ryan Kalkbrenner have 17 factors apiece for Creighton.
Akron senior Enrique Freeman had 19 factors and 11 rebounds and senior Ali Ali has 12 factors.
Moments in the past, Freeman’s tenth rebound tied him with David Robinson (1986, Navy) with 31 double-doubles, probably the most in a single-season in NCAA Division I historical past.
Creighton pulling away from Akron with a 28-8 run
Creighton led 59-42 after sophomore Mason Miller swished a 3-pointer with 12:30 left within the second half. The three gave the Bluejays a 28-8 run after the Zips led 34-31 with 2:44 to go within the first half.
Akron senior Greg Tribble Jr. dropped in a layup moments later to make it 59-44.
Akron senior Ali Ali picked up his fourth foul with 12:46 remaining within the second half.
Creighton builds a double-double lead towards Akron
Creighton compiled a 7-0 run to additional separate from Akron and pressure Zips coach John Groce to name a timeout with 14:20 to go within the second half. The Bluejays have outscored the Zips 17-8 within the second half.
Creighton sophomore Mason Miller made 1 of two free throws, junior Trey Alexander made a jumper, sophomore Steven Ashworth made two free throws and senior Baylor Scheierman dropped in a bucket throughout the spurt.
Creighton extends lead in second half towards Akron
Creighton prolonged its result in 50-42 by the primary media timeout of the second half at 15:58.
Sophomore Mason Miller made a 3-pointer to present Creighton a 42-34 lead with 19:11 to go within the second half. Akron senior Sammy Hunter stopped a Bluejays 11-0 run with a bucket, however senior Baylor Scheierman netted a 3-pointer on the following possession to present Creighton its largest lead at 45-36 with 18:22 to go.
Akron senior Ali Ali picked up his third foul with 17:14 left within the second half.
Creighton captures 39-34 halftime lead with an 8-0 run vs. Akron
Creighton completed the primary half robust and led Akron 39-34 at halftime.
After the Zips took a 34-31 lead with senior guard Ali Ali splitting a pair of free throws with 2:44 left within the first half, the Bluejays charged again with an 8-0 run.
Creighton made fast-break 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, seizing a 37-34 benefit with 1:30 remaining. The Bluejays prolonged their benefit to 39-34 when senior guard Baylor Scheierman made a bounce shot with 50 seconds left earlier than halftime.
Freeman took a desperation 3-pointer simply earlier than the buzzer however missed. He led all scorers with 15 factors within the first half. He additionally had a game-high eight rebounds. Ali added 10 factors.
Jay Wright, former Villanova two-time nationwide championship coach, is raving about Freeman at halftime on the TNT studio present.
“I like the child,” Wright stated of Freeman’s effort and play on the court docket.
Junior guard Trey Alexander and senior middle Ryan Kalkbrenner led Creighton with 11 first-half factors apiece. Scheierman added eight factors and 7 rebounds.
Within the first half, Creighton shot 15 of 25 from the sector (7 of 10 on 3-pointers). Akron shot 14 of 32 from the sector (5 of 15 on 3-pointers).
Creighton coach Greg McDermott defined throughout an in-game interview with TNT’s Evan Washburn what allowed the Bluejays to mount a run late within the first half.
“We took care of the basketball No. 1 … and we’re defending slightly bit higher. … Akron is a heckuva basketball workforce, they usually’re enjoying rather well,” McDermott stated.
Akron and Creighton tied 31-31 with 3:28 left within the first half
The Zips and Bluejays had been tied 31-31 throughout a media timeout with 3:28 left within the first half.
Freeman paced Akron with a game-high 13 factors at this level. Ali had 9 factors.
Kalkbrenner led Creighton with 11 factors.
Zips tie rating 27-27 off Bluejays turnover
Sophomore guard Nate Johnson stole a cross by Scheierman and assisted on a layup by sophomore guard Tavari Johnson with 7:26 left within the first half. The basket tied the rating 27-27.
Scheierman wasn’t as variety to Akron a couple of minutes earlier. He made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, giving Creighton a 27-23 lead with 9:11 remaining.
Creighton leads Akron 21-19 with 11:42 left
The Bluejays had been taking pictures 80% from the sector via roughly the primary eight minutes and led 21-19 throughout a timeout with 11:42 remaining within the first half. The Zips began 53.8% taking pictures from the sector.
Alexander led Creighton with eight factors. He was 3-of-3 taking pictures from the sector and 2-of-2 taking pictures from the free-throw line.
At this checkpoint, Freeman led Akron with 9 factors.
“Clearly we have to remain nearer to Freeman,” McDermott stated throughout an in-game interview with TNT’s Washburn.
Akron and Creighton begin sizzling from 3-point vary
Creighton and Akron went forwards and backwards with a barrage of 3-pointers to start the sport, and the Bluejays led 16-14 when the Zips known as timeout with 13:58 left within the first half.
Creighton made its first two 3-pointers. Akron began 4 of seven on 3s.
Kalkbrenner led Creighton with seven factors within the first six minutes of the sport, utilizing his 7-foot-1 body and vary to achieve a bonus.
Freeman led Akron with 9 factors, taking pictures 3 of 5 from the sector (3 of 4 on 3 pointers).
Beneath is a few pregame data.
An Akron vs. Creighton pregame view from PPG Paints Enviornment
Who does Creighton play within the NCAA Match Spherical of 32
Creighton advances to play Saturday at a time to be introduced in a Midwest Area second-round recreation towards No. 11 Oregon, which defeated No. 6 South Carolina 87-73 on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
What channel is Akron vs. Creighton on at present? watch, stream reside
- TV channel: TNT
- Stream: NCAA March Insanity Stay app | | Sling TV | Fubo (free trial)
Announcers for the sport are Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas, together with reporter Evan Washburn.
Akron vs. Creighton begin time, TV information, location
- Begin time: 1:30 p.m. ET
- TV information: TNT
- Location: PPG Paints Enviornment, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Akron vs. Creighton preview
AKRON: Led by MAC Participant of the 12 months Enrique Freeman, the Zips are a veteran workforce loaded with seniors who’ve been via so much collectively, together with a close to upset of UCLA within the 2022 NCAA Match. Guard Greg Tribble is an elite defender, Ali Ali brings a flexible recreation, and Sammy Hunter, Nate Johnson and Mikal Dawson can warmth up taking pictures the three.
Extra on Enrique Freeman:From walk-on to MAC Participant of the 12 months, Enrique Freeman’s March Insanity origin story
CREIGHTON: An Elite Eight workforce final yr, Creighton mixes a high-powered offense and powerful protection. It upset No. 1 UConn final month. The trio of Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner all common between 17 and 18 factors per recreation. Steven Ashworth is a fourth double-figure scorer. The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner is three-time Massive East Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
Akron vs. Creighton, betting line, unfold
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday night
- Unfold: Akron +12.5
- Over/underneath: 141.5 factors
- Moneyline: Akron +625 | Creighton -1000
Akron vs. Creighton prediction, recreation picks
Akron 65, Creighton 62: Akron’s defense-first method shall be examined by Creighton’s high-powered offense. Akron desires to maintain the sport within the 60s, similar to the Zips did within the MAC Match semifinals and championship recreation. In the event that they keep away from prolonged scoring droughts, and forestall an prolonged Creighton run, the Zips are taking a look at their first NCAA Match win.
Akron vs. Creighton harm updates
AKRON: Nate Johnson missed greater than a month with a damaged hand suffered Jan. 12, however has returned for the previous seven video games and scored 11 factors in MAC title recreation, his first double-figure scoring recreation since his return.
CREIGHTON: No accidents to report.
Akron vs. Creighton stats
AKRON (24-10)
- PPG: 74.0
- PPG allowed: 65.9
- FG% 45.6
- 3PT%: 32.8
- KenPom rating: 117
CREIGHTON (23-9)
- PPG: 80.5
- PPG allowed: 69.7
- FG% 48.6
- 3PT%: 36.1
- KenPom rating: 11
Akron vs. Creightonchampionship odds
Odds in accordance with BetMGM: (use one of many hyperlinks beneath)
AKRON: +100000
CREIGHTON: +2500
Akron basketball schedule 2023-24
The previous 5 video games of Akron’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the total schedule, click on right here
March 5 | Loss vs. Jap Michigan 61-60 |
March 8 | Loss at Western Michigan 90-84 |
March 14 | Gained vs. Miami, Ohio 75-63 (MAC Match) |
March 15 | Gained vs. Ohio 65-62 (MAC Match) |
March 16 | Gained vs. Kent State 62-61 (MAC Match) |
March 21 | Akron vs. Creighton (NCAA Match) |
Creighton basketball schedule 2023-24
The previous 5 video games of Creighton’s 2023-24 basketball season. For the total schedule, click on right here
Feb. 25 | Loss at St. John’s 80-66 |
Feb. 28 | Gained vs. Seton Corridor 85-64 |
March 2 | Gained vs. Marquette 89-75 |
March 9 | Gained at Villanova 69-67 |
March 14 | Loss vs. Windfall 78-73 (Massive East Match) |
March 21 | Creighton vs. Akron (NCAA Match) |
We sometimes suggest fascinating services. Should you make a purchase order by clicking one of many hyperlinks, we might earn an affiliate charge. USA TODAY Community newsrooms function independently, and this doesn’t affect our protection.