AKRON, Ohio – Noah Robotham scored 14 points and Deji Ibitayo added 12 as Akron held on to beat Bryant 72-66 on Sunday night.
Ibitayo's 3-pointer gave Akron a 64-52 lead with 3:44 to play. Bryant answered with a 14-5 run, sparked by two 3-pointers from Dyami Starks and back-to-back 3s from Bosko Kostur and Zach Chionuma, to pull within 69-66 with 22 seconds left. Starks then forced a turnover, but missed the layup.
Ibitayo made a pair of free throws to make it 71-66 with 6 seconds remaining to seal it for Akron (4-2). Kwan Cheatham Jr. added eight points and three blocks for the Zips.
Starks scored a season-high 25 points, including 7-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc. Curtis Oakley had 13 points and Shane McLaughlin dished out seven assists for the Bulldogs (1-3).
It was the first meeting between the schools.
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