Akron Defeats Kent State 69-52

Tavari Johnson's 16 points lead Akron to 8th straight win

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:31pm

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Tavari Johnson scored 16 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to help Akron defeat Kent State 69-52 on Friday. Bowen Hardman added 15 points for the Zips, who led by 9 at halftime and pulled away with a 12-0 run in the second half.

Why it matters

This win extends Akron's winning streak to 8 games and keeps them in contention for the Mid-American Conference title. Kent State, meanwhile, drops to 7-3 in conference play with the loss.

The details

Johnson led Akron in scoring with 10 points in the first half to help the Zips take a 38-29 lead at the break. Akron then used a 12-0 run in the second half to build a 17-point advantage. Delrecco Gillespie scored 17 points to pace Kent State, while Morgan Safford added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Tavari Johnson

A key player for Akron, scoring 16 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in the win.

Bowen Hardman

Akron player who shot 5-for-9 from 3-point range to score 15 points.

Delrecco Gillespie

Kent State's leading scorer with 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Morgan Safford

Kent State player who contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.

Rayvon Griffith

Kent State player who grabbed a team-high 17 rebounds.

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The takeaway

Akron continues to build momentum with their 8th straight win, while Kent State missed an opportunity to keep pace in the MAC standings.