Just as they did in the quarterfinal win over Bowling Green, the Zips started fast, scoring on their opening possession and quickly took control.
Akron hit a three-pointer on each of its first three possessions on its way to a 14-4 lead. Four of Akron’s first five baskets were three-pointers.
Down ten, Toledo woke up and found some offensive rhythm to cut the lead to 22-16 with seven minutes gone by.
The two teams continued to trade buckets back and forth, and with under eight minutes to go in the first half, Akron held a 33-27 lead.
Toledo was able to cut the lead to five, but a 6-0 run by the Zips gave them a 41-30 lead. With under five and a half minutes remaining in the first half.
Akron’s offense would again pick up the pace, and the team would cross the 50-point mark in the first half, taking a 52-41 lead into the locker room.
The Rockets flipped the script from the opening minutes of the first half when akron scored nine straight by scoring six straight to cut the lead to five, the closest the game had been since the opening minutes.
The Zips responded, scoring five straight points themselves to push the lead back up to ten with a little over two minutes gone in the second half.
The Rockets continued to show their resilience, bringing the lead back down to six multiple times.
They then cut the lead to five when they came out on the positive side of both teams shooting free throws due to an altercation after a hard foul.
Akron, again, was able to push the lead back up a few points, and held an 81-71 lead with under six and a half minutes to go.
The teams traded buckets back and forth, but the Rockets were unable to shrink the lead to less than eight, and the Zips went on to win 100-90.
Akron will play for its second straight MAC tournament championship and third in four years Saturday at 7:30 against either Kent State or Miami.