Akron survives wild OT thriller vs. Kent State

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Steve McNees blocked Carlton Guyton’s last-second 3-point attempt, giving Akron a wild 66-65 win over Kent State in overtime on Saturday night in the Mid-American Conference championship and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

McNees, whose outside shooting in the first half kept the Zips in the game, got his right hand on Guyton’s long shot as the final horn sounded. It was Akron’s 15th block, and it gave the Zips (23-12) their second MAC title in three years.

Brett McKnight scored 15 points and it was his two free throws with 12.8 seconds left that put the Zips ahead 66-65 and set up another furious finish to the MAC’s finale.

Guyton scored 14 and Justin Greene, the league’s player of the year, had 14 before fouling out for the Golden Flashes (23-11).

The crazy, climactic seconds ended another heated game between the bitter rivals, whose campuses are just 14 miles apart.

McKnight had shot an airball on his previous free throw attempt before the senior calmly knocked down both attempts. Kent State was out of timeouts and rushed the ball up the floor. Rodriquez Sherman drove the lane, but had his shot swatted away by Akron’s 7-foot center, Zeke Marshall — his ninth block.

The loose ball ended up in the hands of Guyton, who had to rush to get off his shot that was tipped away by McNees’ fingers.

Akron players poured onto the floor, and during the celebration Kent State’s Michael Porrini was inadvertently stepped on by a bouncing group of Zips. Coaches from both teams had to separate players and security rushed onto the floor as streamers fell from the ceiling and the championship trophy was being wheeled out.

It was typical MAC madness. Last year’s game also went to overtime, with Akron losing to ninth-seeded Ohio.

This was the Zips’ fifth straight appearance in the championship.

The teams went to OT tied at 59 after a frenetic final few minutes of regulation.