AKRON, Ohio (AP) -Anthony Simpson scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace Kent State to a 74-61 win over Akron on Friday night.

Rodriquez Sherman added 15 points and five assists for the Golden Flashes (23-8, 13-3 Mid-American Conference), who have won five games in a row. The win earned Kent State the 2010 Mid-American Conference title and an automatic bid to the post season.

Advertisement

After leading 31-23 at halftime, the Golden Flashes used a 12-2 run in the second half to take a 50-31 lead with 13:46 remaining. The Zips never recovered, as they failed to get any closer than within 12 points.

Jimmy Conyers finished with 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Zips (22-9, 12-4).

Kent State shot 51.7 percent from the field (30-for-58), while Akron shot only 38.5 percent (20-for-52). The Golden Flashes scored 25 points off of Akron's 17 turnovers.