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Zips too strong for Penguins
Photo
YSU forward Cale Zuiker tries to maneuver around Akron center Zeke Marshall during Monday’s game at Rhodes Arena.
By Michael Beaven
Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON
Classes are not in session at the University of Akron as students enjoy their winter break.
But the men’s basketball team continues to work towards finding cohesion on the court and Monday hosted its toughest opponent yet at Rhodes Arena: Youngstown State.
UA passed the test with high marks by defeating YSU 88-62 before a crowd of 2,408.
“I think it basically came down to us playing 10 against six, really,” Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. “We have more depth. They got tired and we stayed after them.”
The Penguins (6-5) offered more resistance early in the game than the Zips’ (6-5) previous two opponents during the five-game homestand, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Florida A&M, but still fell by 26 points. The Zips’ previous two wins came by an average of 22.5 points.
Sophomore forward Demetrius Treadwell led UA with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and six rebounds. Zips senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic contributed 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and seven rebounds.
“For this particular game, the game plan when Coach gave us the scouting report was that we had the better bigs and they had the better guards,” Cvetinovic said. “We tried to exploit those mismatches as much as we could with Zeke [Marshall], Tree and I just demanding the ball and being a presence down there.
“Eventually when they started closing in on us, we kicked the ball out. We shared the ball and guys were knocking down 3s.”
UA opened a 36-22 lead with 4:10 remaining in the first half after putting together a 17-3 run. Seven Zips scored during the run, with Treadwell pacing the charge with four points.
Before that run, the Zips also put together a 10-0 run to take a 17-12 lead. Treadwell converted two field goals to start the surge and senior guard Brett McClanahan capped the run with two 3-pointers.
“I think it all started with practice first and how we have been practicing during the last week or so,” Treadwell said. “We have really been focused and going through our plays. We have been game-planning correctly and everybody has been working hard.”
UA led 41-30 at halftime and extended its advantage in the second half with contributions coming from several players.
The lead reached its peak at 88-58 with 1:45 left after a 3-pointer and layup by junior forward Chauncey Gilliam.
Senior forward DuShawn Brooks paced YSU with 20 points and junior forward Damian Eargle had eight points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Sophomore guard Kendrick Perry chipped in eight points.
“I thought our bigs played and battled them well, but our guard play was horrific with 21 turnovers,” YSU coach Jerry Slocum said. “I thought Eargle and Brooks battled them well.”
Gilliam finished with 12 points and Zips sophomore guards Brian Walsh and Alex Abreu both scored 10 points.
Marshall, a 7-foot junior center who was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on Monday, totaled nine points and 11 rebounds. McClanahan contributed nine points and six rebounds.
Zips junior Quincy Diggs had a quiet night scoring with four points, but had five assists.
UA finished with an advantage in rebounds (47-32), assists (17-11) and steals (11-7).
“We are big when you really look at us,” Dambrot said. “We are big and strong. Our ability to switch their ball screens hurt them. Our big guys can move their feet and cover their guards, and yet our wings are still big enough to cover their big guys.”