Friday’s other regional college games

March 3, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

HORIZON LEAGUE

Butler 71, Milwaukee 49

VALPARAISO, IND.

Strong defense, rebounding and a punishing inside game led Butler in the second round of the Horizon League tournament. The No. 5 seed Bulldogs were led by sophomore Khyle Marshall with 17 points and 10 rebounds. “I thought our guys were going to play hard and play together - and they did,” head coach Brad Stevens said. “Once we started making some shots it all came together.” Butler (20-13) advances to play regular season champ and No. 1 seed Valparaiso Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU. With the win, Butler clinched its seventh consecutive 20-win season. That ties the school record set from 1997-03.

MAC

Akron 61, Kent State 55

KENT

Akron, down by nine points at halftime, rallied behind Chauncey Gilliam and Alex Abreu to defeat Kent State. The Zips, who had four players in double figures, trailed 27-18 at intermission. They outscored Kent State (20-10, 10-6 Mid-American Conference) 43-28 in the second half. Akron (21-10, 3-3) opened the second half on a 12-0 run, all those points scored by Gilliam (12 total points), Abreu and Brian Walsh (10 apiece) and Zeke Marshall. The Zips’ center totaled 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Marshall went 6 for 8 at the foul line to help give Akron a decisive free-throw advantage. The Zips were 16 of 22 at the stripe, Kent State 9 of 16. Akron hit 7 of 8 foul shots in the last 1:12, Abreu going 4 for 4. Michael Porrini led Kent State with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Central Michigan 76, Western Michigan 70

MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.

Trey Zeigler paced Central Michigan with a game-high 22 points as the Chippewas took possession of the Michigan MAC trophy for the second time in three years. A 3-pointer by Austin Richie gave the Broncos (12-19, 6-10 MAC) a 67-60 lead with less than seven minutes remaining, but it was their last field goal of the game as the Chippewas (10-20, 5-11 MAC) responded with a 12-0 run that gave them a 72-67 lead with 1:48 left on the clock. Zeigler added eight rebounds, a pair of assists and three steals to his seventh 20-point game of the season, while the Chippewas combined for 14 assists and only eight turnovers. Half of the assists came from point guard Austin McBroom, who also contributed 14 points and six rebounds, and Derek Jackson chipped in another 14 points, four assists and three steals. Jackson moved into a tie for fifth place on the Chippewas’ single-season steals list (54, Melvin McLaughlin, 1982-83). Olivier Mbaigoto pulled down a career-high 11 board as Central out-rebounded Western, 40-34.

Associated Press