Akron Zips @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State tops Akron 72-63 in OT in NIT opener
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jaquan Lyle and Marc Loving both had 18 points with career-high rebounds and Ohio State dominated in overtime for a 72-63 win over Akron in a first-round game of the NIT on Tuesday night.
Kam Williams also had 18 points for the Buckeyes (21-13), who outscored the Zips 10-1 in the extra sessions. Lyle had 14 rebounds and Loving 13 to give Ohio State a 57-42 advantage on the boards.
The Buckeyes play the North Florida-Florida winner.
Akron (26-9), looking to set a school record for wins, got 16 points and 12 rebounds from Isaiah Johnson, but he was just 6 of 16 from the foul line. Reggie McAdams had 12 points and 11 boards.
The game featured 23 lead changes and 10 ties but the Zips missed all seven of their field-goal attempts in overtime and went 1 of 6 from the foul line.
Ohio State made 21 of 23 free throws while Akron was 8 of 20.
Akron, which shoots 39 percent behind the arc, put up 42 3-pointers, one shy of the school record but only made nine (21 percent).
Game Information
Columbus, OH

Referee:Brian O'Connell
Referee:Tony Chiazza
Referee:Alfred Smith

2025-26 Standings
| Mid-American ConferenceMid-American Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 18-0 | - | 32-2 |
| Akron | 17-1 | 1 | 29-6 |
| Kent State | 14-4 | 4 | 24-10 |
| Toledo | 11-7 | 7 | 19-15 |
| Bowling Green | 9-9 | 9 | 18-14 |
| Ohio | 9-9 | 9 | 15-17 |
| Buffalo | 7-11 | 11 | 17-15 |
| Massachusetts | 7-11 | 11 | 17-16 |
| Ball State | 7-11 | 11 | 12-19 |
| Central Michigan | 6-12 | 12 | 10-21 |
| Western Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-14 | 14 | 9-21 |
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19-1 | - | 37-3 |
| Nebraska | 15-5 | 4 | 28-7 |
| Michigan State | 15-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
| Illinois | 15-5 | 4 | 28-9 |
| Wisconsin | 14-6 | 5 | 24-11 |
| Purdue | 13-7 | 6 | 30-9 |
| UCLA | 13-7 | 6 | 24-12 |
| Ohio State | 12-8 | 7 | 21-13 |
| Iowa | 10-10 | 9 | 24-13 |
| Indiana | 9-11 | 10 | 18-14 |
| Minnesota | 8-12 | 11 | 15-18 |
| USC | 7-13 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Washington | 7-13 | 12 | 16-17 |
| Rutgers | 6-14 | 13 | 14-20 |
| Northwestern | 5-15 | 14 | 15-19 |
| Oregon | 5-15 | 14 | 12-20 |
| Maryland | 4-16 | 15 | 12-21 |
| Penn State | 3-17 | 16 | 12-20 |
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