AKRON — Game 1 goes to Akron.
In a nationally televised matchup of the Mid-American Conference’s first-place teams, Akron looked like the team that’s won 17 games by an average margin of more than 11 points, scoring at will from everywhere on the court (during the first half) and thwarting Toledo’s offense at the other end.
The Zips’ 77-70 victory on Friday in a squawking James A. Rhodes Arena came on a night when UT’s defensive woes made an inopportune return. For 20 minutes, anyhow.
Akron (17-5, 9-1) shot 48 percent and made eight 3-point attempts.