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CLEVELAND — Former St. Vincent-St. Mary teammates Seth Wilson and Marcus Johnson reconnected Thursday morning in the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Rocket Arena.
The setting was a MAC quarterfinal between Wilson and top-seeded Akron and Johnson and No. 8 Bowling Green.
The game turned into a blowout as Akron (26-6) looked every bit the part of the MAC regular season champion and the reigning MAC Tournament champion in a 96-67 win over Bowling Green (14-18) to advance to a semifinal against Toledo on Friday.
Both players started and each made 5 of 7 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
Johnson, a 6-foot-7 and 265-pound senior, scored a game-high 23 points and also had seven rebounds, six turnovers, two assists, one steal and one block in just over 36 minutes.
Wilson, who is a 6-2 and 220-pound senior, finished with 15 points, two steals, two assists, two turnovers in just over 24 minutes.
"It was great to compete against him," Wilson said. "To be high school teammates and to see each other on this stage at the highest level, it is a testament to each of us as far as work and trusting the process. To see us both out here and perform well, regardless of the outcome, was huge."
Johnson played all four of his high school seasons at STVM form 2016-2020. He was a reserve on STVM's 2017 and2018 teams that won Division II state championships and was a reserve on the 2019 team that finished as the Division I state runner-up.
STVM won a Division II district title during Johnson's senior season in 2020, but the rest of the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wilson played two seasons apiece at STVM (2017-2019) and Lorain (2019-2021). He started on STVM's 2018 team that won the Division II state championship and on the 2019 team that finished as the Division I state runner-up.
"When we see each other, it is all love and reminiscing because we won a ring together," Wilson said. "Naturally, we reminisce about the good times, and when we are on the court we try to push each other to be the best."
Johnson played at Spire Institute, Parkland College and Wheeling before transferring to Bowling Green before this season.
Wilson played the past three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Akron.
"I thought Johnson was terrific with his shot making, unlimited range, high release with size," Akron coach John Groce said. "I thought a couple times we did a poor job of getting to him, but give him credit — you got to make 'em, right? And he did today and I think he did efficiently — 23 points on 17 shots [from the field].
"I thought he was a tough cover, 5 for 7 for 3 ironically, and so was Seth. Seth made big shots and big plays for us. He's done that all year. Seth's a great, what I call connectivity guy. He helps connect our team. He's always in a good mood. He gives you the same attitude and effort every single day. He keeps our guys loose. He's got some Ric Flair — you have to ask him — chant that he likes to use with the guys. That's comical. And so he's really in a good spot right now.
"I'm happy for him because early on when the season started, we're trying to figure out a rotation with all these guys. He got a DNP and didn't play, and at that point in time, obviously when you do that as a coach, you're saying to the player like, 'Hey, this is the rotation we're going with tonight and you're not going to be in that rotation tonight.'
"He did not pout. He just kept playing. He was about the team and he earned the right to be where he is at right now in terms of his starting position, and the value that he adds at both ends of the floor is tremendous. It's ... a great story of my old college coach, I don't think it's a word, but called it sticktoitiveness, and that's what he did. So, I'm happy for Seth."
Wilson certainly had the better supporting cast Thursday as Akron guard Bowen Hardman scored a team-high 17 points off the bench for Akron. The Zips had five other players score in double-digits — Wilson (15), Tavari Johnson (14), Shammah Scott (14), Sharron Young (12) and Isaiah Gray (11).
Akron had 21 assists on 34 field goals, including 16 from 3-point range. BG had eight assists on 25 field goals, including all five 3s by Marcus Johnson.
"We played well," Wilson said. "We definitely shared the ball and defensively we were in tune. I feel like that definitely was a strong point in us winning today, along with playing hard and playing for one another. That was a major thing, too."
Wilson also enjoyed playing on the Cleveland Cavaliers' home court for the second time after playing for West Virginia against Ohio State in a game on Dec. 30, 2023, won 78-75 in overtime by Buckeyes.
"It is amazing getting to play here," Wilson said. "Naturally as a kid, you grow up wanting to play on the Cavs floor. To do that and be out there is a surreal moment. I am just blessed and grateful to be here."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at [email protected] and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron vs. Bowling Green: Former STVM teammates meet in MAC Tournament
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The setting was a MAC quarterfinal between Wilson and top-seeded Akron and Johnson and No. 8 Bowling Green.
The game turned into a blowout as Akron (26-6) looked every bit the part of the MAC regular season champion and the reigning MAC Tournament champion in a 96-67 win over Bowling Green (14-18) to advance to a semifinal against Toledo on Friday.
Both players started and each made 5 of 7 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
Johnson, a 6-foot-7 and 265-pound senior, scored a game-high 23 points and also had seven rebounds, six turnovers, two assists, one steal and one block in just over 36 minutes.
Wilson, who is a 6-2 and 220-pound senior, finished with 15 points, two steals, two assists, two turnovers in just over 24 minutes.
"It was great to compete against him," Wilson said. "To be high school teammates and to see each other on this stage at the highest level, it is a testament to each of us as far as work and trusting the process. To see us both out here and perform well, regardless of the outcome, was huge."
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Johnson played all four of his high school seasons at STVM form 2016-2020. He was a reserve on STVM's 2017 and2018 teams that won Division II state championships and was a reserve on the 2019 team that finished as the Division I state runner-up.
STVM won a Division II district title during Johnson's senior season in 2020, but the rest of the season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wilson played two seasons apiece at STVM (2017-2019) and Lorain (2019-2021). He started on STVM's 2018 team that won the Division II state championship and on the 2019 team that finished as the Division I state runner-up.
"When we see each other, it is all love and reminiscing because we won a ring together," Wilson said. "Naturally, we reminisce about the good times, and when we are on the court we try to push each other to be the best."
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Johnson played at Spire Institute, Parkland College and Wheeling before transferring to Bowling Green before this season.
Wilson played the past three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Akron.
"I thought Johnson was terrific with his shot making, unlimited range, high release with size," Akron coach John Groce said. "I thought a couple times we did a poor job of getting to him, but give him credit — you got to make 'em, right? And he did today and I think he did efficiently — 23 points on 17 shots [from the field].
"I thought he was a tough cover, 5 for 7 for 3 ironically, and so was Seth. Seth made big shots and big plays for us. He's done that all year. Seth's a great, what I call connectivity guy. He helps connect our team. He's always in a good mood. He gives you the same attitude and effort every single day. He keeps our guys loose. He's got some Ric Flair — you have to ask him — chant that he likes to use with the guys. That's comical. And so he's really in a good spot right now.
"I'm happy for him because early on when the season started, we're trying to figure out a rotation with all these guys. He got a DNP and didn't play, and at that point in time, obviously when you do that as a coach, you're saying to the player like, 'Hey, this is the rotation we're going with tonight and you're not going to be in that rotation tonight.'
"He did not pout. He just kept playing. He was about the team and he earned the right to be where he is at right now in terms of his starting position, and the value that he adds at both ends of the floor is tremendous. It's ... a great story of my old college coach, I don't think it's a word, but called it sticktoitiveness, and that's what he did. So, I'm happy for Seth."
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Akron fire away from 3-point range to top Bowling Green
Wilson certainly had the better supporting cast Thursday as Akron guard Bowen Hardman scored a team-high 17 points off the bench for Akron. The Zips had five other players score in double-digits — Wilson (15), Tavari Johnson (14), Shammah Scott (14), Sharron Young (12) and Isaiah Gray (11).
Akron had 21 assists on 34 field goals, including 16 from 3-point range. BG had eight assists on 25 field goals, including all five 3s by Marcus Johnson.
"We played well," Wilson said. "We definitely shared the ball and defensively we were in tune. I feel like that definitely was a strong point in us winning today, along with playing hard and playing for one another. That was a major thing, too."
Wilson also enjoyed playing on the Cleveland Cavaliers' home court for the second time after playing for West Virginia against Ohio State in a game on Dec. 30, 2023, won 78-75 in overtime by Buckeyes.
"It is amazing getting to play here," Wilson said. "Naturally as a kid, you grow up wanting to play on the Cavs floor. To do that and be out there is a surreal moment. I am just blessed and grateful to be here."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at [email protected] and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron vs. Bowling Green: Former STVM teammates meet in MAC Tournament
Continue reading...
