ETAn “air punch” thrown by Akron Zips wing Evan Mahaffey and UA basketball’s response to his subsequent ejection stole the show during an eventful night at Rhodes Arena. “[The officials] felt like he threw a punch — an air punch is what they told me,” Akron coach John Groce said. After the review, Johnson made two foul shots, and UMass guard K'Jei Parker split two free throws. Evan Mahaffey’s younger brother, Zips guard Eric Mahaffey, finished with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds. More Akron basketball coverage: Eric and Evan Mahaffey give Zips a brotherly boostGroce said Akron expected a physical clash as it prepared for UMass.

Source: Punch February 14, 2026 17:14 UTC