Akron fades in second half against Gonzaga

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Staring at a third straight first-round flop, Gonzaga responded like the talented and NCAA tournament-tested team it is.

Josh Heytvelt scored 22 points — seven during a decisive late run — and the Bulldogs rallied to get past rugged, determined but ultimately overwhelmed Akron 77-64 on Thursday night in the South Regional.

The Zags are in their 11th consecutive NCAA tournament but had lost in the first round of the last two.

“Oh, it was a weight off the chest,” Heytvelt said moments after fourth-seeded Gonzaga (27-5) won for the 19th time in 20 games.

Getting zapped in the first round by the 13th-seeded Zips seemed possible for a while. Akron (23-13) was up six in the second half.

“They came out throwing blows and had us rattled,” Heytvelt said.

Nate Linhart scored 13 points in the first half, but had no field goals after halftime for the Zips, who won the Mid-American Conference tournament to get in to its first NCAA tournament in 23 years.

“Well, hey, it feels good to win and move on. That’s what this tournament is about,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “That was a grinder.”

A 3-pointer from Akron’s Chris McKnight then a dunk by Mike Bardo and another 3 from Anthony Hitchens with 14:59 left gave the Zips a 49-43 lead.

They seemed poised for the tournament’s first huge upset — and the Zips’ first NCAA tournament win since it moved to Division I in 1980.

Gonzaga, loaded with what it feels is its best team in years, seemed set up for another collapse.

“Are we really in the tournament,” Heytvelt said he asked himself. “We snapped out of it.”

Gonzaga scored the next seven points, a dunk by Heytvelt, a layup by the rushed Matt Bouldin and a 3-pointer from Steven Gray.

Suddenly, the Zags had their first lead of the half, 50-49, and Gonzaga’s previously stoic players were exhorting the crowd with arms raised skyward.

Those rabid fans in red from Spokane, Wash., were loudest as Gonzaga’s decisive 19-2 run kept rolling. Bouldin’s no-look pass found Heytvelt for a two-handed dunk and Downs scored on an easy layup. Then Heytvelt stepped back for a deep 3-pointer, which he punctuated with a pirouette and three fingers raised in each hand at center court. Then Downs drained another 3.

Downs pounded he’s chest to celebrate Gonzaga leading 67-53 with five minutes left, and the Zags were on their way to the second round.