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  "path": "/college-sports/2026/03/20/john-groce-led-akron-falls-91-71-to-texas-tech-in-first-round-of-ncaa-tournament",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-20T19:19:38.265Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>TAMPA, Fla. — Jaylen Petty scored 24 points, Christian Anderson added 18 and fifth-seeded Texas Tech beat No. 12 seed Akron 91-71 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.</p><p>The Red Raiders (23-10) will face fourth-seeded Alabama or No. 13 seed Hofstra in the second round in the Midwest Region on Sunday.</p><p>Playing without All-America guard JT Toppin, who tore the ACL in his right knee last month, Texas Tech got double-figure scoring from five players.</p><p>Josiah Moseley had 16 points, Donovan Atwell scored 15 and LeJuan Watts added 14.</p><p>Amani Lyles led Akron with 26 points and Shammah Scott had 20.</p><p>Akron (29-6), <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/03/19/akron-zips-john-groce-crushing-it-illinois-texas-tech-ncaa-tournament-march-madness\" >led by former Illinois coach John Groce, </a>became first team to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament three straight years. But the Zips again failed to reach the second round in their eighth March Madness appearance.</p><p>Petty and Atwell opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers to give Texas Tech an 11-point lead.</p><p>Akron got within 64-60 midway through second after Eric Mahaffey scored on a layup and made a free throw to complete a 3-point play. But the Zips couldn't get any closer.</p><p>Anderson's steal led to a fast-break dunk by Petty that put Texas Tech up 77-64. Petty then drilled a 3 to extend the lead to 16 points. He answered Sharron Young's layup with another jumper and the Red Raiders cruised the rest of the way.</p><p>Akron didn't score until Lyles hit a 3-pointer more than three minutes into the game. The teams combined to miss nine of their first 13 shots.</p><p>The Red Raiders built their biggest lead of the first half, 37-25, following an 8-0 run ignited by Petty's driving layup. But Akron closed the half with a 10-3 run of its own to get within 40-35 at halftime.</p><h3>Up next</h3><p>Texas Tech aims to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.<br></p>",
  "title": "John Groce-led Akron falls 91-71 to Texas Tech in first round of NCAA Tournament",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-20T19:19:38.265Z"
}