“These are great moments for our guys. I’m just disappointed we couldn’t finish the race,” Miami coach Travis Steele said. “That’s what makes it so painful when you see that finish line and it’s right there. But at the same time, I think, hopefully it motivates our group because we have a young group…we can come back and be in the same situation next year if our response is the right way to what just happened to us.
“There’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be back in this spot. There’s no doubt.”
The victory gave Akron coach John Groce his fourth win in five meetings over his 10-years-younger half-brother, Steele. Their mother, Barbara Steele, watched the game wearing an Akron-blue sweater while sitting in the red Miami rooting section.
The RedHawks, who lost by 27 points in its regular-season battle with the Zips, grabbed an 8-6 lead less-than four minutes into the contest and extended it to 18 points after a Peter Suder layup with 8:13 left in the first half. Akron clawed back to cut its deficit to 12 at the break.
Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 5:14 left to get Akron within two, 72-70 and the RedHawks went ice-cold from the field, missing two layups, two 3-point attempts and a mid-range jumper over the next three minutes before Johnson, the MAC Player of the Year and MAC Defensive Player of the Year, tied the game with 1:41 left.
Shammah Scott converted two free throws with 1:05 remaining to put the Zips in front, but Evan Ipsaro did the same to make it 74-74 with under a minute left. Evan Ipsaro missed a driving shot with 8 seconds to go that Amani Lyles rebounded, then found Johnson breaking toward midcourt for the game-winner. Ipsaro then missed a desperation half-court shot at the buzzer.
Johnson finished with 22 points and five assists to lead Akron (28-6). Tavari Johnson added 15 points, hitting 3 of 4 from deep.
Peter Suder hit 6 of 9 3-point attempts and led Miami with 24 points. Ipsaro had 12 points and Kam Craft added 11 points and five rebounds.
The RedHawks (25-9) were eyeing their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2007, when Doug Penno banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Akron in the conference finals.
Season milestones
Miami finished with a program record 25 wins. … Miami secured the program’s most MAC wins since 2005-06 and surpassed the program record for most team points scored in a single season. … Miami also set a new record for the most consecutive home wins with 15 in a single season.
“Hopefully we can use this as fuel and motivation to spring us; we’re going to be back in this game next year,” Steele said. “Use these moments as a learning experience so when we’re here next time, man, we’re going to seize the moment even that much more.
“We’re not a one-hit wonder. We had a good year; [we] didn’t finish the way that we wanted. One possession away — things happen. I can tell you we’re going to be here for a long time, and we’ll be back in this moment next year.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP