Ohio State tops Akron 72-63 in OT in NIT opener

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Jaquan Lyle and Marc Loving both had 18 points with career-high rebounds and Ohio State dominated in overtime for a 72-63 win over Akron in a first-round game of the NIT on Tuesday night.

Kam Williams also had 18 points for the Buckeyes (21-13), who outscored the Zips 10-1 in the extra sessions. Lyle had 14 rebounds and Loving 13 to give Ohio State a 57-42 advantage on the boards.

The Buckeyes play the North Florida-Florida winner.

Akron (26-9), looking to set a school record for wins, got 16 points and 12 rebounds from Isaiah Johnson, but he was just 6 of 16 from the foul line. Reggie McAdams had 12 points and 11 boards.

The game featured 23 lead changes and 10 ties but the Zips missed all seven of their field-goal attempts in overtime and went 1 of 6 from the foul line.

Ohio State made 21 of 23 free throws while Akron was 8 of 20.

Akron, which shoots 39 percent behind the arc, put up 42 3-pointers, one shy of the school record but only made nine (21 percent).