Bulls Down Akron in a see-saw game.

After stuggling on the road against Northern Illinois and Bowling Green UB needs two sweep this weeks series of two games if they want to stay ranked. So far so good.

Challenge number one was Akron, who is not a world beater in the conference this season but always provides a challenge. It was a close game but the Bulls handed Akron its second home loss of the season, 76-70.

The key to the win is an area that the Bulls had struglled with in their two conference losses, free throw shooting. UB was 21-of-26 from the charity stripe. In a six point win that shooting stands out against Akron’s 4-7 shooting.

UB had a hot start draining threes in the first eight minutes of the game at the 12 minute mark UB had built up a 17-10 lead but Akron charged back with a run of their own to build up a 28-25 lead for the zips. UB’s defense stiffened and they went into the hald with a 30-28 lead.

Like the first half, UB came out string in the second frame. A 10-2 run and a three pointer from Perkins put UB up and at one point UB extended their lead to double digits, 47-36.

From that point the Akron would charge to make it a close game, and the Bulls would counter. This happened a few times, Akron would pull back within four at 62-58 with 3:23 remaining, UB built it back up to 10 and then Akron charged again.

The game really was not decided until CJ Massinburg, with the Bulls up four, missed the second of two free throws and Dontay Caruthers swooped in with a putback to put UB up 6.

UB has another road game this week, Friday, against MAC west leading Toledo. The game will tip at 7:00 pm and air nationally on ESPNU.