Akron Zips Rally to Defeat James Madison 85-71 in Season Opener

Amani Lyles led the Akron Zips to an 85-71 victory over James Madison in their season opener, scoring a career-high 22 points along with eight rebounds and four blocks. Akron overcame a nine-point halftime deficit by outscoring James Madison 55-32 in the second half, with key contributions from Shammah Scott who added 17 points including four 3-pointers, and Tavari Johnson who scored 14 points. The Zips capitalized on turnovers, scoring 28 points off 19 James Madison turnovers while committing only nine themselves, aided by Evan Mahaffey's four steals. James Madison was led by Justin McBride and Cliff Davis, each scoring 14 points, with Paul Lewis adding 12 points and five assists. Akron's balanced effort was highlighted by a strong defensive and efficient offensive performance, marking a turnaround from last season's loss to the Dukes. The team looks forward to hosting Princeton in their next game.