Steve McNees scored 16 points, making everything he tried from the field and the line, and Akron finished on a 12-3 run to overtake Central Michigan 56-52 on Tuesday night.
McNees made all four shots - each a 3-pointer - and all four free throws to lead the Zips (18-7, 8-3 Mid-American), who won for the fifth time in six games. Jimmy Conyers and Darryl Roberts added 11 points apiece.
Jordan Bitzer scored 20 points and Robbie Harman 13 for the Chippewas (11-11, 6-4). Bitzer became the 26th player in school history with 1,000 points; he has 1,018.
Bitzer's 3-pointer started a 10-0 spurt that gave Central Michigan a 41-30 lead with 14:05 to play. His basket put the Chippewas up 51-46 with 2:21 left, but the Zips closed with their 12-3 rush.
Akron held its 10th opponent to 59 or fewer points and is 10-0 in those games.
