Nikola Cvetinovic scored 17 points, leading four players in double figures, as Akron defeated Western Michigan 83-71 in a Mid-American Conference game Wednesday night.
Brett McKnight hit a pair of 3-pointers and Brett McClanahan made one to start an 11-2 run that helped the Zips (14-10, 5-5) turn a two-point lead into a 32-21 advantage with 2:59 left in the first half.
Akron's lead reached as many as 18 points in the second half, 69-51 with 4:44 to play. The Zips shot 9 for 24 from 3-point range, including 4 of 5 by McClanahan, while the Broncos (12-10, 5-4) missed all 12 of their attempts behind the arc.
Demetrius Ward led Western Michigan with 26 points, including 14 of 14 from the free-throw line, and Flenard Whitfield scored 23.
McKnight finished with 13 points for Akron, giving him 1,000 for his career. McClanahan and Steve McNees scored 12 each.
