Akron falters to Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Ricky Harris scored 20 points and Massachusetts went on a 19-5 run to finish the game for a 68-63 win over Akron on Saturday in the second round of the National Invitational Tournament.

The Minutemen (23-10) travel to Syracuse on Tuesday for a quarterfinal matchup. Massachusetts beat the Orange 107-100 in November.

Jeremiah Wood led Akron (24-11) with 25, the most points scored by any Zips player this season.

Akron led 58-49 with 8:36 remaining. Chris Lowe, who scored 17 points, started the comeback with a jumper in the lane. UMass pulled within 58-55 with 4:48 left, but Akron’s Cedrick Middleton, who had 14, slowed the momentum with two free throws to make it 60-55.

Drives by Lowe and Harris made it 60-59, then Lowe made four straight free throws to put UMass ahead 63-60 with 2:52 left.

The Minutemen made their free throws down the stretch to hold on.

UMass opened a 27-16 lead with 7:19 remaining in the first half. The Zips cut that to 34-31 at halftime, then opened the second half with a 13-5 run for a 44-39 lead.

Wood, who had 18 of his 25 points in the second half, led the way as the Zips stretched their lead to 58-46.