OXFORD: It came as no surprise that the winning score between the University of Akron and the host Miami RedHawks came from the defense.

In a Mid-American Conference matchup at Yager Stadium that was televised nationally on ESPN2, Miami's defense won the game.

RedHawks defensive lineman Craig Mester picked up a fumble midway through the fourth quarter and rumbled seven yards for the only score and Miami prevailed 7-0.

UA coach J.D. Brookhart said: ''The team fought really hard. We just couldn't convert when we had our opportunities.''

The costly turnover came as Akron (4-7, 3-4) faced a third-and-13 at its 20-yard line with 9:38 left in the game. Because the Zips' offense was struggling to move the ball consistently, Brookhart had changed quarterbacks for that series, inserting sophomore Carlton Jackson for sophomore starter Chris Jacquemain (12-of-33 for 116 yards and two interceptions).

Jackson was trying to pass and was pressured by Miami's Clayton Mullins, who forced the fumble just as Jackson was attempting to move his arm forward. Mester scooped up the ball and became the hero for the RedHawks.

''I thought we needed to change things up because we were not moving the ball,'' Brookhart said of the quarterback change. ''That ended up biting us.''

Akron had one more shot at a possible score, with the ball at Miami's 45 with 8.1 seconds left. But Jacquemain's desperation pass was intercepted in the end zone by Jerrid Gaines as time expired.

Miami outgained Akron 320-216, and because the Zips couldn't do much against the RedHawks' defense, Akron needed help from the defense to stay in the game. Senior captain and roverback John Mackey came up with two big plays.

Miami (6-5, 5-1) had the first scoring threat, with the ball at Akron's 15 with 3:14 remaining before halftime. Quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh dropped back to pass, but Mackey stepped in front of the intended receiver, intercepted the pass at the goal line and returned it 34 yards.

Akron was forced to punt, and Miami was poised for another scoring opportunity.

RedHawks receiver Chris Givens caught a 29-yard pass but was stripped of the ball at the 15. Zips defensive back Davanzo Tate recovered it at the 2.

The play was reviewed, however, and the call was reversed as officials ruled that Tate had a foot out of bounds on the fumble recovery. The ball was placed at the 15 because Miami wasn't allowed to advance the ball on a fumble, and the RedHawks went back on offense.

Three plays later, Mackey bailed out the Zips again. Raudabaugh tried to squeeze a pass to a receiver in the end zone, but it was tipped by linebacker Brion Stokes, then intercepted by Mackey with 58 seconds left before halftime.

Instead of being behind, the Zips managed to go into halftime tied.

Senior cornerback Reggie Corner also ended a potential Miami scoring threat with his interception in the end zone on the RedHawks' first drive of the second half.

Akron's only potential scoring drive was its first possession of the fourth quarter, but the drive ended when Jacquemain threw an interception in the end zone.

The game had seven turnovers: two interceptions and a fumble by Akron, and three interceptions and a fumble by Miami's offense. All five interceptions occurred in the north end zone.