Men’s Basketball Scoreboard (Dec. 23)
Akron 87, Cleveland State 57
In the final Horizon League game before the Christmas holiday, Cleveland State could never get on track in a loss at Akron.
Akron 87, Cleveland State 57
Cleveland State saw its 11-game winning streak over Mid-American Conference foes come to an end at the James J. Rhodes Arena, as Akron handed the Vikings an 87-57 defeat before the Christmas holiday.
Cleveland State (7-5) never led in the game, while Akron led by as many as 35 points down the stretch. The Vikings, playing without Anton Grady (knee), were outscored, 42-12, in the paint by the Zips.
Junior Lomomba, finally nearing complete health after a semester filled with injuries, led the Vikings with a career-best 16 points. Lomomba went 8-for-13 at the free-throw line, utilizing his slashing game. Fellow freshman Bryn Forbes added 13 off the bench for Cleveland State.
The Vikings briefly tied the game at 6-6 in the early going, but consecutive three-pointers from Akron sent the Zips on their way to the win.
Cleveland State trailed, 14-9, midway through the first, but Akron responded to a Lomomba jumper with an 11-2 burst as Demetrius Treadwell and Zeke Marshall controlled the paint in the process.
Trailing 42-25 at the half, the Vikings closed with 11 on a three by Tim Kamczyc, but could come no closer, as consecutive threes from Nick Harney and Alex Abreu restored Akron’s 17-point edge with 15 minutes to play.
