AKRON, Ohio – Quin Berger hit six 3-pointers and doubled his previous career high with 18 points, but Bucknell couldn’t keep up with hot-shooting Akron in the second half and fell 97-77 on Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Jayden Williams and Aleksander Pachucki added 15 points apiece, and Grgur Brcic tallied 11 for the Bison (2-8), who got off to a strong start but fell victim to another late-first-half run by the opposition. Amani Lyles scored 24 points and Tavari Johnson tallied 23 for two-time defending Mid-America Conference champion Akron (7-2), which came into the game ranked fifth nationally in scoring at 96.1 points per game.

There were six ties and four lead changes in the game’s first 16 minutes as Bucknell got out to a hot start, hitting eight of its first 10 shots from the field. The Bison led 7-2 early after a Williams 3-pointer, and later in the half Williams hit a bank shot in the key for a 23-22 lead.

Achile Spadone’s third 3-pointer of the half tied the game at 34, but Akron outscored the Bison 15-2 over the last four minutes to grab a 49-36 lead at the half.

Bucknell scored the first six points of the second half on a Williams 3-pointer and a Brcic 3-point play to pull within 49-42, but the Bison had a couple of good looks go in and out while the Zips rattled off 13 straight points. Lyles hit a 27-footer at the end of the shot clock, and Johnson followed with another trey to make it 62-42.

The Zips rarely missed in the second half, shooting 62.1 percent from the field while pulling away.

Spadone tallied nine points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Williams also dished out five assists. Amon Dörries added eight points for the Bison, who shot 50 percent in the first half but slumped to 34.1 percent in the second. They shot 40.8 percent overall and canned a season-high 14 3-pointers in 37 attempts. Akron shot 56.5 percent overall and 12-for-29 from the arc, and the Zips outscored the Bison 15-5 at the foul line.

Bucknell returns to action on Saturday at home against UMBC. Opening tip is set for noon.