Akron men's basketball opens 2026-27 season with win, Zips women lose

The University of Akron basketball teams opened their 2026-27 seasons Monday, Nov. 2, with the men winning and the women losing.Returnee Evan Mahaffey started and newcomer Kamrin Oriol entered as a reserve in Akron's 75-61 men's basketball win over host Louisiana in a Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Challenge game in the Cajundome in Lafayette.The eligibility of Mahaffey and Oriol has been in question, but both played in an exhibition win over Youngstown State University on Oct. 27 and an Oct. 29 order filed by the Ohio Supreme Court kept them available to play by preserving a previous ruling made earlier in October. Ty Pence leads Akron men's basketball to win in Dustin Ford's debut as head coachTy Pence totaled 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists in his Akron debut as Dustin Ford won his first game as Zips men's basketball head coach.Pence, who previously played at Illinois State, made 6 of 12 shots from the field, including 2 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc, and 5 of 5 free throws in 34 minutes.Akron newcomer Tahj Staveskie scored 16 points and had three assists in 38 minutes. Mahaffey contributed 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.Akron scored the first eight points and never trailed. Zips newcomer Colin White made a 3-pointer and Pence added two layups and a free throw in the opening 8-0 run. Akron led 46-29 at halftime.White finished with nine points and four rebounds. Oriol totaled five points, six rebounds and three assists. Returnee Halil "Chabi" Barre and newcomer Buddy Hammer Jr. each had four points and four rebounds.Louisiana's Jamyron Keller scored a game-high 26 points and had four assists. Dani Pounds scored 15 points and Trent Middleton Jr. added 14 points.Akron women's basketball team falls in season opener by one pointThe Akron women's basketball team lost its season opener 75-74 to visiting South Alabama at Rhodes Arena. Kailee Bransford made a 3-pointer to give Akron a 74-73 lead with 23 seconds left in the game, but Jaida Redwine made a layup with less than two seconds left to lift South Alabama to victory.Akron newcomer Macey Fegan, who previously played at Cleveland State, recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes. Akron's Shaena Brew had 12 points and four assists. Tyla Heard contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Bransford and Monique Mitchell each scored nine points. Jessie Joaquim added eight points and 11 rebounds.CJ Wilson led South Alabama with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Jolie Mantz scored 16 points, Julieta Ceja scored 12 points and Deborah Orianegbena had nine points and 12 rebounds.Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron men's basketball opens 2026-27 season with win, Zips women lose