AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering offensive display from its star guard, the Akron Zips weathered a heroic individual performance from Ball State’s Armoni Zeigler to secure an 87-77 victory in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

A crowd of 1,934 saw the Zips (12-4, 3-1 MAC) use balanced scoring and timely defensive stops to hold off the Cardinals (4-13, 0-4), who leaned heavily on Zeigler’s game-high 30 points. The win kept Akron in the upper tier of the conference standings, while Ball State’s losing streak extended to four games.

The most critical phase of the contest came late in the first half, when Akron transformed a tight game into a cushion it would never fully relinquish. Leading 25-23 with just over nine minutes remaining before halftime, the Zips ignited a 16-5 run over the next five and a half minutes. The surge was fueled by defensive pressure and efficient scoring from multiple sources.

It began with a Shammah Scott layup off a Zach Halligan steal, followed by a pair of free throws from Ball State’s Cam Denson. Akron then reeled off 11 unanswered points. Eric Mahaffey sank a 3-pointer off a Scott assist, Amani Lyles converted two free throws, and after an Evan Mahaffey defensive rebound, Eric Mahaffey struck again from beyond the arc, this time with Scott providing the helper once more. Lyles capped the decisive burst with a 3-pointer assisted by Evan Mahaffey, giving the Zips a 41-28 advantage with 2:07 left in the half.

Ball State, led by Zeigler’s 18 first-half points, managed to trim the deficit to 43-34 by the intermission, but the damage was done. The Cardinals expended significant energy climbing back, while Akron established an offensive rhythm that saw five players score during the pivotal run, showcasing the depth that would prove decisive.

The second half saw Ball State, primarily through Zeigler and Davion Hill, repeatedly chip away at the lead, drawing within six points on several occasions. Each time, Akron had an answer, usually from guard Tavari Johnson or forward Amani Lyles. Johnson, who finished with 22 points and seven assists, consistently broke down the Cardinal defense, while Lyles provided a powerful interior presence, scoring 19 points and controlling the glass.

Zeigler’s spectacular effort kept the Cardinals in striking distance until the final minute. His 3-pointer with 4:27 remaining cut Akron’s lead to 76-73, sending a ripple of tension through the arena. The Zips responded immediately out of a timeout. Scott, who had 18 points, was fouled on a 3-point attempt and calmly made all three free throws. After a Ball State turnover, Scott struck again, hitting a 3-pointer off an Evan Mahaffey assist to push the lead back to nine at 83-74 with 1:50 to play, effectively sealing the outcome.

Hill supported Zeigler with 15 points for Ball State, while Elmore James added 17. For Akron, Evan Mahaffey contributed 10 points, five assists and stout perimeter defense.

The game’s statistical projection heavily favored Akron, which entered as a 20.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks. The combined score of 164 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 154.5.

Akron, which has won three of its last four, will host Western Michigan on Saturday. Ball State, still seeking its first MAC win, returns home to face Ohio on Friday night. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Muncie, Indiana, on Feb. 21.