Akron Zips basketball hurt by historic season ending with bruising loss in NCAA Tournament

SEATTLE — Fighting back tears became difficult for several members of the Akron Zips men's basketball team after their historic 2024-25 season ended Friday night with a 93-65 loss to Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The blowout defeat ate at the Zips, but what crushed them even more is knowing their tight-knit group won't remain intact.

Zips senior guards Seth Wilson, Isaiah Gray and Evan Wilson played for the final time in college as fourth-seeded Arizona (23-12) physically dominated No. 13 Akron (28-7) in an East Region matchup at Climate Pledge Arena.

“I was trying not to cry,” Akron junior forward Amani Lyles told the Beacon Journal. “I didn't think I was going to cry until we started talking about our seniors and just what they meant to me as brothers first and as teammates second. I just thought of all the times that we had on and off the court.

“I love these guys so much, and we have a great group. I'm proud of our guys and the season that we had. I don't want us to hang our heads because we did a lot for the city of Akron and for the basketball program of Akron. So I'm just very proud of our guys for fighting and just making history.”

Akron set a single-season program record with 28 wins and prevailed in 20 of its final 22 games. Unfortunately for the Zips, an 0-7 record in Division I NCAA Tournament games is also part of their history.

“We're still trying to get over that hump,” said Akron redshirt junior guard Nate Johnson, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.

Akron Zips can't match Arizona Wildcats' rebounding or paint prowess

Everyone knew Arizona had a significant size advantage over guard-heavy Akron, yet the disparity had an even greater impact than the Zips anticipated.

Arizona made nine dunks and blocked nine shots compared with Akron's one made dunk and four blocked shots. Arizona won the rebounding battle 53-22 and outscored Akron 48-20 in the paint and 18-4 in second-chance points.

Coach John Groce said Akron struggled to make good decisions in the paint and at the rim.

Zips senior forward James Okonkwo said Arizona is probably tied with Saint Mary's as the most physical opponent Akron encountered throughout the season. Okonkwo moved slowly in the locker room and explained his knees took the brunt of his clashes with the Wildcats in the post.

“I'm obviously disappointed we didn't win,” Okonkwo said. “I think we left a lot on the table. I think we let them out-physical us a little bit, and I'm primarily to blame for that.

“I feel as if my role as an enforcer is trying to mediate that a little bit, and I don't think I did as best as I could in terms of dealing with that physicality. But it's a learning process. I'm going to take it in stride and make sure I come back with even more gusto next season.”

The 6-foot-8 Okonkwo and 6-7 Lyles are the only big men the Zips use. The rest of the rotation is composed of guards who are 6-3 or shorter. Okonkwo had three points on 1-of-3 shooting from the field and four rebounds in 17 minutes. Lyles had five points on 2-of-6 shooting from the floor and three rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

Arizona starting forwards Trey Townsend, 6-6, and Tobe Awaka, 6-8, collected eight rebounds apiece. Townsend also scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, trailing only Wildcats 6-3 guard Jaden Bradley's 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor.

Arizona 7-footer Henri Veesaar had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. Guard Caleb Love, 6-4, had 10 points and seven rebounds. Forward Carter Bryant, 6-8, posted 12 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench.

“They're really lengthy,” Lyles said. “They rebound the ball good. They were also physical. You can have the size, but physicality is a whole other thing. So they have both, and that really helped them win the game.”

Arizona succeeds in making life difficult for Akron from 3-point range

Nate Johnson and fellow junior guard Tavari Johnson led the Zips with 13 points apiece. Nate Johnson went 1-of-9 shooting from the field and Tavari Johnson 6-of-15 shooting from the floor.

As a team, the Zips didn't shoot nearly well enough to pull off an upset, going 21 of 63 from the field (33.3%), including 7 of 25 on 3s (28%).

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd knew Akron's path to victory started with a hot shooting performance. The Zips entered March Madness averaging 29.8 3-point attempts and 10.9 made 3s.

“I thought it was as tight as we've played defensively all year against a team like that,” Lloyd said. “With our switches and our coverages, I thought our guys did a great job.”

The Wildcats were willing to concede points in the paint and midrange jump shots. They were not willing to surrender a bevy of quality looks from beyond the 3-point line, and their length helped them accomplish the defensive mission on the perimeter.

“Usually they're in the gaps,” Akron's Tavari Johnson said. “Usually they were trying to take our ball more. And they weren't. They were spread out keeping us from shooting 3s, and it was going well for them. It worked throughout the game. We weren't able to get comfortable from 3.”

Best Zips player struggled shooting from the field while Wildcats were hot

Averaging a team-high 14 points entering the game, Nate Johnson lamented his poor shooting outing. He made 11 of 12 free throws but just a single field goal.

“I definitely could have been way better than what I was,” he said. “I feel like I should have impacted the game a little bit more. I waited a little too long to try to get it going again in the second half. I didn't do my job.”

Meanwhile, Arizona proved to be sizzling from the start. It made 3 of 4 3s to open the game and took a 9-0 lead. Although Akron tied the score 11-11 with 13:51 left in the first half, the Zips never led. Arizona led by as many as 34 points late in the game.

The Wildcats went 39-of-69 shooting from the field (56.5%), including 12-of-25 shooting on 3s (48%). Heading into the game, Arizona had been averaging 21.1 attempted 3s and 6.8 made 3s.

“I think we didn't help ourselves,” Okonkwo said. “We had a few lapses. I think we beat ourselves in the first half by just having some mental lapses on defense.”

Akron trailed 41-31 at halftime before it was outscored 52-34 in the second half.

“The main lesson is I would just say just continue to play with effort the whole game,” Akron senior guard Shammah Scott said. “Even when things aren't going your way, we've got to keep fighting.

“That's what we've been doing all year, and this game definitely hurt, but I feel like including myself, I let my emotions get into the game. I feel like I could have fought harder, and I feel like that goes for a lot of people.”

Scott had 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. He and the Johnsons were the only Akron players who scored in double figures. Arizona had five players reach double figures in scoring.

“I wouldn't say it's a failure,” Wilson, a former St. Vincent-St. Mary High School player, said after he scored six points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field in his final game with the Zips. “I feel extreme gratitude, and I'm just grateful, man, for all the times I had with these guys.”

The 2024-25 Zips just wish they could have added a March Madness win to the good times they'll remember.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips lament loss in physical March Madness game against Arizona

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Akron Zips basketball hurt by historic season ending with bruising loss in NCAA Tournament

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