The University of Akron and its fans will long remember how a 3-pointer by Kent State's Al Fisher with 2.7 seconds remaining was the difference in an emotionally draining defeat.

However, the Zips' performance most of the way also was a factor in the Golden Flashes' 61-58 win Sunday night at Rhodes Arena in a showdown for first place in the Mid-American Conference.

''I am disappointed in the 37 minutes we played, but the last three minutes we showed a lot of guts,'' said senior Jeremiah Wood, who led all scorers with 23 points. ''Fans were leaving when we made that run.

''It was exciting, but I am not happy we didn't get the win.''

The fans were leaving because the Zips appeared to have no chance to win. They never led at any point in the game, trailing 19-4 at the start, 32-15 at the half, 45-29 with 8:30 remaining and 49-37 with 4:17 left.

That's when a miracle rally by the Zips almost pulled out a miracle victory — until Fisher had other ideas.

''Really, we played about four minutes good. They played about 36 minutes good, at least defensively,'' UA coach Keith Dambrot said. ''I don't think we were very good. They pressured us into poor composure.''

In those final minutes, the Zips forced turnovers and converted them into baskets. The Flashes then were the ones losing their composure and missing free throws.

''The last three minutes was interesting because I have never seen them (the Flashes) do that,'' said Dambrot, whose team opens the MAC Tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against the Central Michigan-Northern Illinois winner. ''I never saw them lose their cookies like that.''

Despite playing well for such a short stretch, the Zips had life and forged a 58-58 tie with 9.4 seconds remaining on the second 3-pointer of Wood's career.

Then the collective spirit of the Zips and their fans hit the wall when Fisher worked his way up court, squared up and made a shot that gave Kent State the overall MAC championship and East Division title.

''He took what he thought he had,'' Dambrot said about Fisher's shot. ''We got a little disjointed on that play. We got caught up in the moment and we were stretched out. We let their best player beat us.''

The Zips had emotion on their side at the start with Senior Night ceremonies that honored five departing seniors.

UA then fell immediately behind and hurt itself in the first half with a 4-of-24 shooting performance (16.7 percent), including 1-of-12 on 3-pointers (8.3 percent).

''It was a very sluggish game from the beginning,'' Wood said. ''We weren't playing our game.''

The Zips entered the game leading the MAC in 3-point percentage (39.2) and 3-pointers made (8.66 per game). But UA was 1-of-21 with two minutes left when Nick Dials and Wood made their final two to make it 3-of-23 (13 percent).

''We took quick, rushed shots, which has not been our formula,'' Dambrot said. ''I will give them credit. They forced us into that. But you have to be disciplined enough not to do that.''

The Flashes entered the game second in the MAC in points allowed per game (62.6) and third in field-goal percentage defense (41.4).

KSU lived up to that by pressing virtually every Zips possession. Junior guard Jordan Mincy was especially effective on Dials, holding him to five points and 2-of-10 shooting.

''The pressure he puts on the ball, he's almost like a blitzing linebacker,'' KSU coach Jim Christian said about Mincy.

The loss gave the Zips a 1-3 home record in the final four weeks of the season after having won 22 in a row.

UA finished as the third overall seed in the MAC behind Kent State and Western Michigan.