In another heart-stopping Mid-American Conference showdown on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team lost to the University of Akron Zips by a narrow two points, 66-64. The game was nothing short of a back-and-forth battle with 15 lead changes and seven ties, with fans kept on edge til the final siren. The Eagles lead by as many as nine points in the second half, but the Zips, who sit second in the MAC standings behind undefeated Miami (OH), surged late in the second half.
Early exchanges set the tone
The first ten minutes of the contest set the tone for the evening, the teams going possession for possession, resulting in seven early lead changes. The Eagles' early offense was fueled by Addison Patterson, who had seven quick points. With five minutes left in the first half, the Eagles had managed to take a 26-24 lead, bolstered by two three-pointers from Saginaw native and true freshman Gregory Lawson II. Despite this, Akron picked up its momentum and went into the locker room with a 31-27 lead.
Eagles explode out of the locker room
Eastern Michigan came out of the locker room revitalised. They shifted the score to 40-34 in their favour, ignited by an 11-0 run. Not only was their offense firing on all cylinders, but the Eagles put on a defensive masterclass, holding the Zips to 0-9 shooting from beyond the arc during the first ten minutes of the second half. With 8:57 remaining on the clock, the Eagles have a 52-43 advantage.
Akron answers with a late push
Akron didn’t go away. After a 15-6 run, they levelled the score at 55 apiece with five minutes left to play. While Pattern scored at the 4:59 mark, the Zips scored 6 straight to extend the lead to 61-57. In the final minute, redshirt freshman Mohammad Habhab sank a free throw, putting Eastern Michigan ahead by a single point. The lead was short-lived; Akron drilled a game-winning three-point shot with only 8.1 seconds remaining. The Eagles had the last shot, and a tip-in effort at the buzzer failed to fall, leaving the home crowd in a silent stun.
Lawson II headlines strong individual performances
Individually, Gregory Lawson II led the Eagles with 17 points, hitting a career-high five three-pointers on 71.4% shooting from deep. Addison Patterson contributed 16 points and six rebounds, marking his 11th consecutive game scoring in double digits. Mohammad Habhab provided a versatile performance with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while also recording multiple blocks for the sixth straight game. On the Akron side, Tavari Johnson led all Zips with 17 points and six rebounds, supported by Evan Mahaffey, Sharron Young, and Bowen Hardman, who each added 12 points.
Numbers tell a different story
Statistically, the Eagles actually outshot the Zips, finishing 40.4% from the field compared to Akron's 37.7%. Eastern Michigan also dominated the glass, outrebounding Akron 41-33. A significant improvement was noted in the paint, where the Eagles allowed only 26 points—a sharp decline from the 70 they surrendered to Akron in their previous December meeting.
What’s next?
In the all-time series, Akron moves to 40-24. The game marks five consecutive home losses against the Zips. The Eagles move to 9-14 overall and 3-8 in MAC play. Akron moves to 19-4 overall and remains a top contender in the conference with a 10-1 record. On Saturday, February 7, the team travels to Appalachian State for the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
