Akron Vs. Western Michigan Final Score: Zips Squeak Past Broncos In OT

Akron scored an overtime victory Wednesday against Western Michigan, moving the Zips to 17-7 overall and 9-1 in the Mid-American Conference.

The win kept Akron one game ahead of Buffalo in the MAC East, but it didn’t come easy.

Akron trailed 58-53 before going on late a 6-0, capped by a Zeke Marshall that gave the Zips a 59-58 lead.

Trailing by one with six seconds left, Western Michigan’s Flenard Whitfield had two free throws with a chance to take the lead. He hit just one of two, however, sending the game into overtime.

The Zips took a two-point lead late in OT on a pair of Marshall free throws with 37 seconds left. WMU’s Mike Douglas missed a potential game-tying jumper, and Akron tacked on a free throw for the three-point margin.

It wasn’t a pretty game, as each team struggled mightily from the floor. Akron hit just 24 of 65 shots (36.9 percent), Western Michigan just 20-57 (35.1).

Next up for Akron is a pair of home games against MAC cellar-dwellers. First is a Saturday night contest with Northern Illinois, which is last place in the MAC West at 3-19 overall and 2-8 in conference. After that it’s a Wednesday matchup with Miami (Ohio), which is last place in the East with a 3-7 conference mark.

Akron squares off with second-place Buffalo on Feb. 29.

More college hoops coverage at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Akron Vs. Western Michigan: Zips Try To Continue Dominance Against MAC West

The Akron Zips will try to extend their conference record to 9-1 as they face the Western Michigan Broncos Wednesday night.