Final Score: Akron 72, Stetson 56

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Steve McNees scored 16 points while Brett McClanahan netted 13 points with six rebounds as Akron earned a 72-56 victory over Stetson in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.

Alex Abreu posted 11 points and seven assists for Akron (7-4), which has won three straight. Darryl Roberts had 10 points for the victors.

Tyshawn Patterson came off the bench to score 18 points for the Hatters (3-8), who have lost four straight games and eight of their last 10. Ridge Graham notched 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss.

Akron jumped out to a 19-8 lead just five minutes into the game after Brett McKnight hit a three-pointer. The Zips added to the lead nine minutes later when Abreu drilled a trey to give them a 15-point edge at 32-17.

The lead remained 15 at halftime when Dakotah Euton made two free throws to give Akron a 42-27 advantage at the break.

McNees made one of his four three-pointers just under two minutes into the second half to give the Zips their biggest lead of the game, 19 points at 48-29. They held that 19-point lead three more times during the final 16 1/2 minutes of the contest.

Meanwhile, the Hatters were never able to cut the margin under double digits as Akron stayed comfortably ahead during the rest of the game.

12/22 20:19:09 ET