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AKRON 66, KENT STATE 65 (OT)

MARSHALL NAMED MVP
Marshall's final block was his fourth during the overtime period and ninth of the game, a tournament record.  He added 9 points and 13 rebounds and was named the tournament MVP.

“That last play was just a test for toughness,” Marshall said.  “Can you make the big play?  Can you do what you need to do to win?... (Sherman's shot) went up, I made sure I had it.”

The final sequence capped a tense overtime that saw three lead changes (10 total) in the last 1:07.  Darryl Roberts' jumper gave the Zips (23-12) their first lead of the extra frame, 64-63.  But 28 seconds later, Guyton shot over Marshall to put the Golden Flashes (23-11) back on top.  On the ensuing possession, Steve McNees fed the ball to a cutting Brett McKnight, who was fouled by fellow tournament team selection Michael Porrini.

McKnight stepped to the free throw line knowing the last time he was there (at the 1:44 mark of the second half), he had the chance to extend his team's 58-56 lead and air-balled the front end of a one-and-bonus, giving KSU the ball back.

“On to the next one,” he said.  “That's all that's in my mind, really.”

He sank both of what became the last points in the contest. 

PARADOXICAL STAT
The free throws helped Akron pull out a victory in spite of a KSU's 13-4 edge in field goal attempts during overtime.

“You could search the box scores for a year. I don't know if you can find a team that got nine more shots than the other team in OT and (lost),” KSU head coach Geno Ford said.

The Flashes also had the opportunity to win at the end of regulation. Justin Greene missed the go-ahead free throw with 42 seconds remaining, but Guyton corralled the rebound.  After a timeout, Guyton missed an NBA-length three.  Rodriquez Sherman then stripped McNees but failed to get a shot up before time expired.  Ford lamented the poor fortune of his team in crunch time.

“We played well all year.  We came up one possession short,” he said.  “We had 4 chances to score (and) went 0-4.”

Early on, it looked like anything but a nail-biter.  The Flashes sprinted to a 14-3 start in the first 4:26, igniting the Kent faithful and silencing Zips' fans.  Porrini and Randall Holt both hit three pointers in that stretch, while Akron shot 1-6.  That would be the biggest lead of the game. 

After struggling early, Akron used a 10-2 run to pull within three (16-13) at the 9:02 mark.  The Flashes, meanwhile, quickly cooled following their initial success. A team that likes to run their offense through star forward Greene and have their guards penetrate, Kent State was stymied by Marshall.  In addition to his blocks, he altered many more shots.

ZIPS COACH COUNTED ON MARSHALL
Dambrot knew his center's defense would make or break the Zips. “I thought our only chance to win tonight was for him to affect the game defensively,” Dambrot said.

“I know I wanted this championship so bad,” Marshall said.  “I brought it to myself to step it up.  That's why I always get so upset when they score on me.”

A Quincy Diggs layup tied the game at 24-24 with 3:44 left in the half.  The teams traded baskets until McNees hit three-pointers on consecutive trips to give Akron a 33-31 lead that it took to the locker room.  Ford pointed to McNees' baskets as the game's turning point, but Dambrot said his offense ran better when they started getting the ball in the paint more.

INSIDE OUT
“We shot a lot of jump shots (early), which I thought was dumb.  When we settled down and threw it inside to throw it back outside, we were a little better,” Dambrot said.

The Akron defense gradually tightened, and KSU's shooting got worse as the night progressed.  In the first half, the Flashes registered 40.7 percent from the field.  In the second half, it was 34.5%.  By overtime, the conversion rate was down to 15.4 percent.  A frustrated Greene shot 5-16 and collected his fourth and fifth personal fouls within the first 90 seconds of overtime.

“I take full responsibility for this loss.  I didn't do what I was supposed to do in a championship game,” he said.

Akron held the lead for most of the second half.  A Guyton layup at the 10:29 mark gave KSU a 45-44 lead, but Darryl Roberts' three-pointer the next minute put Akron back ahead. 

Another Roberts three put Akron on top 50-48 19 seconds after Eric Gaines hit a free throw to nudge KSU ahead a point.  The rest of the half saw Akron with small leads, only to be tied by Kent shortly thereafter.  McKnight's air-balled free throw eventually led to a Sherman layup to tie it at 58 with 1:15 remaining.  Marshall and Greene both hit a single free throw to cap the second half scoring.

EARLY FLASHES LEAD IN OVERTIME
In overtime, Holt's three with 4:08 to go gave Kent a 62-59 lead.  It would hold that lead until Robert's jumper with 1:07 on the clock, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Akron won despite 8-17 shooting at the free throw line.  In the second half and overtime, McKnight and Marshall missed the front end of one-and-bonus opportunities that could have given Akron a lead or extended a lead.  Though KSU was little better (12-23), Dambrot was worried about foul shooting and broke protocol by having the team put up shots at Cleveland State earlier in the day.

“I won't do that again,” he cracked.

For KSU, a spot in the National Invitation Tournament awaits.  Greene and Porrini were already getting ready for next week's tournament and the chance to get Sherman, the team's lone senior, more wins.

“We're gonna try to win it,” Porrini said.

ZIPS SURVIVED ADVERSITY
For Akron, the championship crowns a season of adversity.

“This team went through (more) struggles than any team I've ever had.  We had some moments where we were just awful,” said Dambrot, whose players were not immediately concerned with potential matchups in the NCAA tournament.

“As of right now, I haven't really thought about it,” McKnight said.  “I just want to enjoy this moment.  When we find out who we play, then I'll start thinking about it.” 

The Zips will learn their fate Sunday afternoon.