Dec. 8, 2007

Final Stats

AKRON, Ohio - Chris McKnight led four University of Akron players in double figures with a career-high 17 points as the Zips (6-2) cruised to a 96-49 rout of North Carolina Central (1-11) Saturday night at Rhodes Arena.

McKnight, who also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in his second start of the year, was joined in double-digits by Mike Bardo (12), Nick Dials (12) and Jeremiah Wood (10) as the Zips dominated the Eagles in nearly every category.

The Zips were especially efficient on the offensive end, shooting 57.8 percent (37-of-64) from the floor and 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from 3-point range while dishing out a season-best 26 assists. UA was equally impressive defensively, scoring 41 points off of 22 NCCU turnovers, and out-rebounded the Eagles, 41-29.

North Carolina Central was limited to just 33.3 percent (19-of-57) shooting from the floor and 26.3 percent (5-of-19) from 3-point distance. Charles Futrell led NCCU with 19 points.

Akron controlled the contest from the opening tip, scoring 14 of the game's first 17 points behind a pair of 3-pointers from Dials. The Zips blew it wide open with a 24-0 run over the course of seven minutes and 12 seconds, pushing their lead to 32 points (48-16) with 5:39 on the clock in the first half. The Zips, who improved to 4-0 at home, carried a 61-23 advantage into the locker room and the route was on.

The Zips have now won 14-straight home games, which ranks as the eighth-longest home-court win streak in the nation. UA has also been victorious in 35 of their last 36 games at Rhodes Arena, and are 44-2 at home under fourth-year head coach Keith Dambrot.

(Game story courtesy of University of Akron Media Relations)