COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Zed Key hit a layup with less than a second left to give No. 17 Ohio State a 67-66 win over Akron on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Ali Ali hit a step-back 3-pointer and a foul shot to put Akron up 66-65 with six seconds left in a game that was tied six times in the second half.
The Buckeyes inbounded the ball after a timeout, and freshman Malaki Branham got it inside to Key, who banked it in to seal the win.
E.J. Liddell led Ohio State with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but fouled out on Ali’s late 3-pointer. Key had a career-high 14 points.
Ali had 17 points and K.J. Walton 16 for the Zips, who were close to getting their first win over Ohio State in more than century.
The Zips went on an 8-0 run to open the second half to tie the game at 36. Akron held leads of 62-59 and 53-50 with less than eight minutes to go.
Ohio State went 4 of 14 from 3-point range and shot just 36.7% in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Akron: The Mid-American Conference squad was tenacious against the Buckeyes and just wouldn’t go away.
Ohio State: It was all the Buckeyes could do to survive unranked Akron. Liddell was the best player on the court, but others are going to have to contribute more if they hope to have consistent success.
UP NEXT
Akron: Hosts Point Park on Saturday.
Ohio State: Hosts Niagara on Friday.