BOX SCORE
QUOTES
NOTES
CLEVELAND -- David Kool scored a career-high 39 points, but Akron converted an offensive rebound with six seconds to go to defeat Western Michigan, 66-64, in the semifinals of the 2010 FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Kool moved into sixth in MAC history with 2,116 points in his career for the Broncos (18-15), passing Gary Trent of Ohio and Ray McCallum of Ball State vs. the Zips (24-9). Kool made 12-of-21 field goals, including five three-pointers, and all 10 of his free throws.
Akron made two free throws to keep the lead, 56-54, it had held the entire game, but then Kool hit two
free throws to tie the game and then drove the lane and scored after an
offensive rebound by Flenard Whitfield for WMU's first lead, 58-56,
with 5:12 to play.
Three points in a row by the Zips gave them the lead, 59-58, with 3:38 to go, but then Kool hit another jumper with 3:06 to play to put WMU back in front and then made two free throws with 2:38 remaining to put WMU up three, 62-59.
The Zips turned a Bronco turnover into a dunk with 1:59 to go, but then Martelle McLemore spun through a double team to keep WMU up three, 64-61, with 1:34 left. Akron responded with a three-pointer by Chris McKnight to tie the score with 1:10 left.
The Broncos turned the ball over on their next possession to give the ball back to the Zips, who then scored on the put-back. Kool had one last look, but missed with his foot on the line from just left of the top of the key.
Kool added six rebounds and three steals for the Broncos, while McLemore had nine points and five rebounds.
Akron built an 8-2 lead to start the game, but WMU came back to cut the lead to three, 8-5, after a fast break runner by Kool with 15:08 to play. The Zips built the lead back to five, 12-7, but a three-pointer by Demetrius Ward on a drive-and-kick by Alex Wolf cut the lead to two, 12-10, with 12:45 to go. Akron came back with a 12-0 run over 2:49 to take a 14-point lead, 24-10, with 9:43 left in the half.
Still trailing by 14 with 7:45 to go, 28-14, the Broncos rallied with a 9-0 run to pull within five, 28-23, after Mike Douglas found McLemore for a triple on the left wing with 5:15 to go in the half. After a score by the Zips to halt the run, Kool hit a three-pointer in the right corner to pull WMU within four, 30-26, but Akron countered with five in a row to go back up by nine.
The Broncos rallied again as Kool hit a floater in the paint and then knocked down his second triple on the left wing to draw WMU within four, 35-31, with 1:56 to play. The Zips locked down again and finished the half by scoring the final five to go up nine, 40-31, at halftime.
The Zips shot 46.9 percent (15-32) in the first half, including four three-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws, while the Broncos shot 45.8 percent (11-24) with four three-pointers and 5-of-6 free throws. The Broncos turned the ball over 11 times and were out-scored, 14-7, in points off turnovers. The Zips also bullied their way to 18 points in the paint and just 10 for the Brown & Gold. Akron also had an 18-12 rebounding edge in the opening half.
Akron opened the second half with a three-pointer, but then WMU came back with five in a row to pull within seven, 43-36, when Kool converted on the fast break after Douglas picked up a steal with 18:32 to play. The Zips scored six of the next eight to go back up 11, but then Kool hit a triple to keep WMU within single digits, 49-41, and start a 16-5 run to tie the score, 54-54, with 8:28 remaining with a long two in the left corner by Kool to set the game's final moments.
The Broncos finished shooting 46.7 percent (21-45), including 8-of-18 three-pointers (.444) and 14-of-17 free throws (.824). Akron was held to 34.6 percent in the second half and finished 41.4 percent (24-58) for the game, including 7-of-22 three-pointers (.318) and 11-of-15 free throws (.733).
The Zips out-rebounded the Broncos, 34-28, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to a 16-9 edge in second-chance points. Points off turnovers finished even with 20 for each team as WMU coughed it up 17 times and Akron 14.
The Broncos have their year-end banquet on Sunday night in downtown Kalamazoo and await to hear word about a possible postseason invitation to the NIT, College Basketball Invitational or CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
