Wednesday, January 26, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AKRON -- Romeo Travis scored 22 points and Akron got off to a fast start in a 79-64 victory over Ball State on Tuesday.
The Zips (12-5, 6-3 Mid-American Conference) opened the game with an 11-0 run and never trailed. Travis had five points and Darryl Peterson hit two free throws and got inside for a layup in the spurt.
Peterson and Matt Futch finished with 11 points apiece for Akron, which shot 51 percent from the field.
The Zips continued to build on their strong start. Bubba Walther made a 3-pointer to make it 26-9 with 7:36 left before halftime.
Peyton Stovall led the Cardinals (9-6, 4-3) with 23 points and Dennis Trammell added 21. Trammell was 4-for-5 from 3-point range and Ball State went 9-for-19 from behind the arc.
Trammell converted a three-point play early in the second half to cut the lead to six, but Akron ripped off 15 of the next 19 points to regain control. Rob Preston hit two free throws to make it 54-37 with 13:04 left.
Ball State committed 19 turnovers and shot 42 percent from the field.
Buffalo 86, N. Illinois 80
AMHERST, N.Y. -- Mario Jordan scored 19 points to help Buffalo over Northern Illinois.
Five players reached double figures in scoring for the Bulls (11-5, 4-4 MAC), who won for the second time in three games while improving to 7-1 at home.
Turner Battle added 16 points and Yassin Idbihi had 14 for Buffalo, which beat the Huskies for the third straight time.