COL BKB: Kent State 74, Akron 55

CLEVELAND, March 15 (UPI) -- Haminn Quaintance scored 16 points Saturday to lead Kent State to a 74-55 victory over Akron that won the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Mike Scott added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Golden Flashes (28-6), who earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Kent State was making its sixth appearance in the title game in eight years, and seventh in the last 11. It was Kent State's 10th finals appearance (5-5), but the first against local rival Akron.

Jeremiah Wood had a team-high 13 points for the third-seeded Zips (23-10), who lost the title game for the second straight year and have not appeared in the NCAA tournament since 1986.