AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — The Akron Zips delivered a dominant, wire-to-wire performance Saturday afternoon, overwhelming the Princeton Tigers 104-69 in a non-conference men’s basketball game at James A. Rhodes Arena.

From the opening tip, Akron’s offense operated with ruthless efficiency. The Zips built a 47-27 halftime lead and never relented, outscoring Princeton by 15 points in the second half to secure the lopsided victory before a crowd of 1,502.

The game was a stark contrast in offensive execution. Akron shot 50.7 percent from the floor, connecting on 15 of 37 three-point attempts. They were also efficient from the free-throw line, making 17 of 21. Princeton struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 35.4 percent overall and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Akron’s defense was equally disruptive, forcing 15 Princeton turnovers while committing only seven. The Zips converted those takeaways into 22 points and dominated in transition, outscoring the Tigers 27-5 in fastbreak points. They also controlled the interior, scoring 40 points in the paint to Princeton’s 24.

Amani Lyles led a balanced and potent Akron attack with 16 points and six rebounds. Tavari Johnson was a catalyst, scoring a game-high 21 points and dishing out six assists. The Mahaffey brothers, Eric and Evan, also made significant contributions. Eric Mahaffey neared a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Evan Mahaffey filled the stat sheet with 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

For Princeton, Jackson Hicke shouldered the scoring load with 15 points. Jack Stanton added eight points and grabbed six rebounds. The Tigers’ offense was hampered by a lack of ball movement, managing only two assists as a team for the entire game.

With the win, Akron improved its season record to 2-0. The Zips opened their season with an 85-71 victory over James Madison on Nov. 3. Princeton, playing its season opener, fell to 0-1. The Tigers will look to rebound in their home opener against Bucknell on Tuesday. Akron’s next test is at home against Penn St.-Shenango on Wednesday.