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See Jane Style:
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 10:02 p.m. EST, Nov 15, 2009
The University of Akron basketball players received their Mid-American Conference championship rings before Sunday afternoon's game and then seemed to forget what it took to earn them.
In their season opener, before a crowd of 2,360 at Rhodes Arena, the Zips lost a 15-point lead in the final 71/2 minutes to lose to underdog Austin Peay 80-77.
''No killer instinct. No leadership. No enthusiasm,'' UA coach Keith Dambrot said afterward.
The Zips, who were 13-point favorites, led 72-57 with 7:36 remaining and 74-62 with 5:26 left. That was when the Governors (1-1) snatched victory from defeat with a staggering 17-0 run to go up 79-74 with eight seconds left.
''That's probably one of the most disappointing games I have ever had here,'' said Dambrot, who is in his sixth year as head coach. ''You can't lose a 15-point lead with 7:36 to play. That is absolutely ridiculous.
''You could almost not take a shot the rest of the way and win that game.''
Dambrot was all smiles beforehand, when he and the players received rings for winning their first MAC title last March and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.
But he was clearly exasperated less than three hours later in explaining a loss in which his team made one basket — a 3-pointer by Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens with 3.8 seconds left — in the final 5:26.
''We did a very poor job of handling prosperity first and adversity second,'' Dambrot said.
The Zips used a 13-3 spurt in the first half to lead 44-32 at halftime. The Governors got to 47-43 early in the second half, but the Zips regained the momentum and seemed in control when it was 72-57 and 74-62.
But the Governors began making shots and defensive stops in mounting their comeback.
Even then, UA was in position to win, but Nikola Cvetinovic missed two free throws with 2:29 left and Darryl Roberts missed a pair with 1:03 remaining. In the final minute, Brett McKnight missed two inside shots and Hitchens missed a jumper, while Austin Peay made six of eight free throws to win.
''We had nobody that made a play when it mattered,'' Dambrot said. ''We didn't make one.''
Dave Loos, who is in his 21st season as head coach at Austin Peay, said his team could have quit, but never did.
''For us to win here is big for us,'' said Loos, whose team was predicted to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference. ''[UA is] going to win a lot of games and could be a tournament team. I am proud of how our guys got down and fought back.''
The game marked the debut of 7-foot freshman center Zeke Marshall, a highly touted recruit from McKeesport, Pa. He came in at the 17:24 mark and finished with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 24 minutes.
''He wasn't perfect, but he was better than the older guys and he is the only one who has an excuse really,'' Dambrot said. ''He really doesn't know very much yet.''
The Zips under Dambrot have a reputation for playing good defense, but the Governors scored 28 points inside to 22 for UA) and shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field.
''We didn't have one guy who could guard anyone out there other than Zeke at the basket,'' Dambrot said. ''I felt the whole game they got to the rim. If Zeke wasn't in the game, they got anything they wanted.''
Steve McNees led UA with 14 points, followed by Hitchens with 12, Chris McKnight with 11 and Marshall with 10. Wes Channels of Austin Peay had 17.
The loss was the first in a home opener since 2001, when 25th-ranked Western Kentucky prevailed 78-68.
The game was part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic. UA plays three more games in the event this weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla., starting Friday with North Carolina State.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The University of Akron basketball players received their Mid-American Conference championship rings before Sunday afternoon's game and then seemed to forget what it took to earn them.
In their season opener, before a crowd of 2,360 at Rhodes Arena, the Zips lost a 15-point lead in the final 71/2 minutes to lose to underdog Austin Peay 80-77.
''No killer instinct. No leadership. No enthusiasm,'' UA coach Keith Dambrot said afterward.
The Zips, who were 13-point favorites, led 72-57 with 7:36 remaining and 74-62 with 5:26 left. That was when the Governors (1-1) snatched victory from defeat with a staggering 17-0 run to go up 79-74 with eight seconds left.
''That's probably one of the most disappointing games I have ever had here,'' said Dambrot, who is in his sixth year as head coach. ''You can't lose a 15-point lead with 7:36 to play. That is absolutely ridiculous.
''You could almost not take a shot the rest of the way and win that game.''
Dambrot was all smiles beforehand, when he and the players received rings for winning their first MAC title last March and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.
But he was clearly exasperated less than three hours later in explaining a loss in which his team made one basket — a 3-pointer by Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens with 3.8 seconds left — in the final 5:26.
''We did a very poor job of handling prosperity first and adversity second,'' Dambrot said.
The Zips used a 13-3 spurt in the first half to lead 44-32 at halftime. The Governors got to 47-43 early in the second half, but the Zips regained the momentum and seemed in control when it was 72-57 and 74-62.
But the Governors began making shots and defensive stops in mounting their comeback.
Even then, UA was in position to win, but Nikola Cvetinovic missed two free throws with 2:29 left and Darryl Roberts missed a pair with 1:03 remaining. In the final minute, Brett McKnight missed two inside shots and Hitchens missed a jumper, while Austin Peay made six of eight free throws to win.
''We had nobody that made a play when it mattered,'' Dambrot said. ''We didn't make one.''
Dave Loos, who is in his 21st season as head coach at Austin Peay, said his team could have quit, but never did.
''For us to win here is big for us,'' said Loos, whose team was predicted to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference. ''[UA is] going to win a lot of games and could be a tournament team. I am proud of how our guys got down and fought back.''
The game marked the debut of 7-foot freshman center Zeke Marshall, a highly touted recruit from McKeesport, Pa. He came in at the 17:24 mark and finished with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in 24 minutes.
''He wasn't perfect, but he was better than the older guys and he is the only one who has an excuse really,'' Dambrot said. ''He really doesn't know very much yet.''
The Zips under Dambrot have a reputation for playing good defense, but the Governors scored 28 points inside to 22 for UA) and shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field.
''We didn't have one guy who could guard anyone out there other than Zeke at the basket,'' Dambrot said. ''I felt the whole game they got to the rim. If Zeke wasn't in the game, they got anything they wanted.''
Steve McNees led UA with 14 points, followed by Hitchens with 12, Chris McKnight with 11 and Marshall with 10. Wes Channels of Austin Peay had 17.
The loss was the first in a home opener since 2001, when 25th-ranked Western Kentucky prevailed 78-68.
The game was part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic. UA plays three more games in the event this weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla., starting Friday with North Carolina State.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Highland Square, OH
Posted 11:35 PM, 11/15/2009
Rough loss. It was obvious who had the better players, but that's irrelevant. You gotta finish em' off....
Go zips, go whoop some NC State arse!
Canton, OH
Posted 07:43 AM, 11/16/2009
It's early. . .
Cleveland, OH
Posted 06:44 PM, 11/16/2009
Ouchers !!! I don't know what's worse... watching your team lose a big lead or losing on a buzzer beater.
