“After the University of Akron men’s basketball team defeated the Ball State Cardinals on Feb. 11, sophomore forward Chris McKnight rather nonchalantly discussed the win. Then, the emerging team leader was asked to give his thoughts on the team’s upcoming contest at Northern Illinois.”
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After the University of Akron men’s basketball team defeated the Ball State Cardinals on Feb. 11, sophomore forward Chris McKnight rather nonchalantly discussed the win.

Then, the emerging team leader was asked to give his thoughts on the team’s upcoming contest at Northern Illinois. The Huskies came to Rhodes Arena last season and stunned the Zips by shooting 64.6 percent from the field and defeating the Zips, 88-78, to halt UA’s 22-game home winning streak.

McKnight’s response was filled with passion.

Everybody that was on the team last year, it’s a bitter taste in our mouth, he said. We know we should have won that game; that it shouldn’t have happened.

It still irks me just thinking about it, every time I hear Northern Illinois … We’re not losing this one.

Unfortunately, the Zips did lose this year’s contest. And, this year’s loss will likely be remembered as sourly as last year’s rendition.

UA made a furious 20-0 run early in the second half to tie the game and make for another exciting second half. However, it ended in just another heartbreaking defeat,

The Huskies shot lights-out in the first half, shooting 55.6 percent from the field, including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers. But, that’s not what cost the Zips.

In the team’s now defunct seven-game winning streak, the Zips caused their opponents to turn the ball over while limiting their own miscues and collecting assists. In Sunday’s UA had 15 turnovers and only 13 assists.

NIU was also the more physical, aggressive team, forcing UA to commit 30 personal fouls.

Pile this loss on to the three close defeats the Zips suffered in the first go-round in divisional play and the team should have a rather large chip on its shoulder in its second tour through the Mid-American Conference’s East Division.

The loss undoubtedly dealt the team’s division championship hopes a major blow, but the way the Zips responded the last time they were buried in the standings should give UA fans a reason to remain optimistic as the team makes its way to the end of the regular season and the MAC Tournament.

McKnight’s outward emotion about seeking revenge should be as well, as the team will have plenty of opportunities to use that as motivation the rest of the way.

The Zips saw three wins against divisional opponents within their grasp slip away early in conference play. UA had a chance to beat the Miami RedHawks in its conference opener before falling in overtime, 64-51. The team then came home and suffered an equally devastating, late-game loss to Buffalo Two games later, heartbreak struck again for the Zips, as UA made a storming comeback at Ohio before falling in overtime to the Bobcats, 70-65.

Add in the rivalry game at Kent State, and the final three weeks of the season turn out to be as crazy as the first two-thirds of the conference slate.

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