#5 UC Santa Barbara Goes Back-to-Back, Wins 2011 ampm Big West Tournament TitleCLEVELAND, Ohio - In the end, it was only fitting that one of the MAC's biggest rivalries would need a few extra minutes to sort things out in the championship game of the MAC tournament. With each team trading haymaker runs throughout the game, senior Brett McKnight (6'6''-F) stepped up and nailed two free throws with 12.8 seconds left in overtime to regain the Zips' lead and the defense would handle things from there, forcing an off-balance runner followed by a blocked three-point attempt at the buzzer to seal a thrilling 66-65 victory and return Akron to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus. It certainly didn't appear to be Akron's night early on as Kent State jumped all over the Zips, reaching its largest advantage of the night just four and a half minutes into the game at 14-3. Luckily for the multitudes of Akron fans in attendance, Steve McNees (6'2''-G-87) proved that experience counts, cashing in back-to-back threes to draw Akron within five points and halting the Kent State momentum. The game settled into a rhythm from there with Akron drawing even for the first time at 24 apiece and taking its first lead of the game at 33-31 heading into halftime thanks to two more McNees bombs. The second half became a see-saw battle throughout until Akron was able to break through with a six-point edge at 54-48 after a tough Darryl Roberts (6'0''-G-86) drive with just less than five minutes remaining in regulation, forcing Kent State into a timeout. The Golden Flashes responded quickly behind the unconscious outside shooting of Randal Holt (6'2''-G-91). Holt converted on back-to-back threes with less than four minutes left to bring the game back to even once again at 56-56. The final minutes then became a free-throw contest that neither side wanted to win, sending the game into an extra five minutes tied at 59. Holt started the extra period by nailing another three, his fourth of the game, but Akron's senior leaders refused to be put away. McKnight hit on a tough turnaround to bring the game within one at 63-62 and Roberts used a nifty spin in the lane to open up room for a high floater over the defense to give the lead back to the Zips in the final minute. Showing mettle of their own, the Golden Flashes jumped back on top as Carlton Guyton (6'4''-G) swished a mid-range jumper from the wing with 39 seconds left. On the ensuing Akron possession, McKnight was fouled and recovered from an airballed free throw at the end of regulation to knock down two and provide the Zips' final margin of 66-65. With no timeouts remaining on either side, Kent State couldn't get a good look in the final seconds, setting off a raucous celebration from many of the 8, 926 fans in attendance. Akron will find out its next opponent during tomorrow evening's NCAA Selection Show. As regular-season league champion, Kent State is assured of making the NIT and will learn of its opponent tomorrow night as well. Courtesy of MAC MAC Tournament Final: Kent State - Akron 65-66 (OT) MAC Tournament Semifinals: WMU - Akron 68-79 Kent St. - Ball St. 79-68 All-MAC Awards 2010-11
Player of the Year: Justin Greene (6'8''-F) of Kent St. All-Tournament MVP: Zeke Marshall (7'0''-C) of Akron Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Porrini (6'2''-G) of Kent St. Freshman of the Year: Javon McCrea (6'6''-F) of Buffalo Sixth Man of the Year: Carlton Guyton (6'4''-G) of Kent St. Coach of the Year: Geno Ford of Kent St. 1st Team F: Justin Greene (6'8'') of Kent St. F/C: Julian Mavunga (6'8'') of Miami, OH G: D.J. Cooper (5'11''-90) of Ohio G: Xavier Silas (6'5''-88) of N.Illinois F: Jarrod Jones (6'9''-90) of Ball St. 2nd Team F: Brandon Bowdry (6'6''-88) of E.Michigan F: Nikola Cvetinovic (6'8''-88) of Akron G: Rodriguez Sherman (6'2''-87) of Kent St. G: Byron Mulkey (6'0''-88) of Buffalo G: Demetrius Ward (6'3''-90) of W.Michigan Honorable Mention Zach Filzen (6'3''-G-88) of Buffalo Javon McCrea (6'6''-F) of Buffalo Auston Calhoun (6'7''-F) of Bowling Green Scott Thomas (6'6''-F-89) of Bowling Green Trey Zeigler (6'5''-G-91) of Cent.Michigan Jalin Thomas (6'4''-G/F-89) of Cent.Michigan Michael Porrini (6'2''-G) of Kent St. Nick Winbush (6'7''-F) of Miami, OH Devaughn Washington (6'8''-F-89) of Ohio Flenard Whitfield (6'7''-F-90) of W.Michigan All-Tournament Team Jarrod Jones (6'9''-F-90) of Ball St. Michael Porrini (6'2''-G) of Kent St. Justin Greene (6'8''-F) of Kent St. Brett McKnight (6'6''-F) of Akron Zeke Marshall (7'0''-C) of Akron All-Freshman Team Chris Bond (6'4''-F) of Ball St. Javon McCrea (6'6''-F) of Buffalo Trey Zeigler (6'5''-G-91) of Cent.Michigan Nick Kellogg (6'3''-G) of Ohio Juwan Howard (6'9''-F-73) of Portland TB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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