CLEVELAND -- Isaiah Johnson and Antino Jackson scored 19 points apiece as Akron moved into the Mid-American Conference Tournament's title game by holding off Ball State 74-70 in the semifinals on Friday night.
The MAC's player of the year, Johnson muscled inside for two baskets in the final two minutes as the top-seeded Zips (26-7) advanced to the championship for the ninth time in 11 years. Akron lost to Buffalo in last year's final.
The Zips got all they could handle from the Cardinals (21-12), who pulled within 70-67 on a 3-pointer by Tayler Persons with 37.