AKRON, Ohio — Akron was on, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff wasn’t.
Akron show 59.3 percent from the field and got seven blocks from Zeke Marshall on Thursday in an 87-64 victory at Rhodes Arena. Three Zips scored in double digits, led by Marshall’s 21 points.
UAPB (1-7) hoped to put on a strong performance after falling short by only 13 points to 18th-ranked Michigan on Tuesday, but the Golden Lions continued to struggle shooting the ball. They hit only 33.3 percent (18 of 54) from the field, including 4 of 16 from the 3-point line. Lazabian Jackson, who scored 23 points against Michigan, was held to five points and went 0 for 5 from the floor, while Savalace Townsend led the Lions with 23 points and three assists.
UAPB matched Akron (4-5) in the rebounds category with 29, but the Zips were dominant defensively with 12 blocks and eight steals. Marshall had six rebounds to go with his team-high in points.
Chauncey Gilliam also scored 17 points, hitting 7 of 9 field goals in the process, and Brian Walsh had 10 points. Akron shot 32 of 54 as a team, including 7 of 13 from the 3-point line.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Lions never led and came within as close as 5-4 before the Zips raced to a 17-5 run. Derrius Nelson hit a 3 with 2 seconds left in the half to pull the Lions within 34-20.
From that point, UAPB got within 38-25 after a Clay Johnson 3, but no closer. Over the next 8 minutes, the Lions converted only one field goal.
This was the third straight year the Zips hosted the Lions, with Akron winning all three contests. UAPB has lost 33 of its last 34 nonconference games, dating back to December 2008, and six of its losses have been by double-digit margins.
UAPB has dropped its last five since beating Isiah Thomas-coached Florida International 58-56 on Nov. 21 in Tulsa, Okla. That same FIU team, now 3-7, nearly pulled an upset against Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Maryland, falling 65-61 on Wednesday.