University of Akron NCAA News

BKCHoward-Akron,0226 Balanced scoring leads Akron past Howard 69-52 Eds: APNewsNow.

BKCDrake-Akron,0174 Hitchens leads Akron to 63-59 win over Drake Eds: APNewsNow.

N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe couldn't help being impressed by his team's start. Tracy Smith had 16 points and 11 rebounds as N.C. State beat Akron 66-45 at the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Friday.

Locating Freddie Barnes will be the easy part for the University of Akron football team; stopping him is another matter entirely.

The University of Akron basketball players received their Mid-American Conference championship rings before Sunday afternoon's game and then seemed to forget what it took to earn them.

Wes Channels scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Austin Peay Governors to an 80-77 win over the Akron Zips in a non- league matchup as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic at James A. Rhodes Arena.

University of Akron sophomore men's basketball player Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens has earned an honorable mention spot on the www.CollegeInsider.com Preseason Mid-Major All-America Team, announced by the web site on Friday.

For 33 minutes Sunday, Akron's effort against Austin Peay resembled the glorious highlights of last spring's run through the Mid-American Conference postseason tournament and into the NCAA.

Chester Stewart passed for two touchdowns and ran for two, leading Temple over Akron 56-17 on Friday night to keep the Owls on track for a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Akron's Jimmy Conyers, left, figures to have a bigger role with the Zips this season.

Good fortune, which had frowned on Akron Zips football all season, finally smiled a bit Saturday as Akron put a serious dent in rival Kent State's postseason chances with a 28-20 victory at InfoCision Field.

Akron's Patrick Nicely avoids a Kent tackler for a short gain during 1st-half action in their MAC football game at InfoCision Stadium on Saturday in Akron.

Football coaches often use the term ''a complete game'' in describing a victory fueled by productivity and efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.

Kent State running back Jacquise Terry should return from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee in time to play Nov.

The University of Akron had a 130-yard rushing advantage over Kent State in beating its archrival 28-20 Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.

Patrick Nicely threw two touchdown passes to Jeremy LaFrance and Akron defeated Kent State 28-20 on Saturday.

They are still teenagers and were in high school just six months ago. Yet they will be central figures in the circle-the-calendar game between the University of Akron and Kent State today at InfoCision Stadium as the quest for the Wagon Wheel trophy continues for the 39th time.

The University of Akron football team will be facing a potent rushing offense Saturday that bears little resemblance to its own.

Akron freshman center Zeke Marshall is a rare top recruit for the Zips, but that doesn't mean he won't experience plenty of growing pains in learning the college game.

Two weeks ago, linebacker Aaron Williams of the University of Akron played the final 21/2 quarters with a broken arm in a 21-17 loss at Buffalo.