LAS VEGAS (AP) - Reggie Johnson scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead Miami past Akron 69-61 Thursday in the final round of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
The Hurricanes (10-3) went 4-0 in the Classic.
"Coach (Frank Haith) kept us focused on things," said Johnson, who had his seventh double-double this season. "It's hard being in Vegas. So many things going on."
Malcolm Grant added 17 points for Miami, highlighted by an 11-of-12 effort from the free throw line. Durand Scott added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Brett McKnight led the Zips (7-5) with 20 points. Brett McClanahan had 11 points and Nikola Cvetinovic 10 points and seven rebounds for Akron, which finished 6-of-27 from three-point range and is 2-1 at the Classic.
Miami, which was 1-of-11 from three-point range, extended its 38-22 halftime lead to 57-35 with 10:08 left on two Grant free throws after a technical was called on Zips coach Keith Dambrot.
Akron responded with a 16-0 run, but the spurt ended after Johnson's dunk with 4:51 left caused the clock above the basket to shut down. It never was fixed.
The Hurricanes, who were outrebounded 41-40, built a 35-16 lead in the first half and led 38-22 at halftime. The Zips were held to 7 of 24 shooting in the first half and missed all six 3-pointers after making 14 in a win over Stetson on Wednesday.
