With 4:03 remaining in the first half Friday night, the maturation of University of Akron junior Isaiah Johnson seemed complete.
What transpired in a matter of seconds under the UA basket was a display of power and grace, as strange as that sounds when the subject is a 6-foot-10, 295-pound center.
Johnson got off three shots during one trip downcourt, each time battling for his own rebound against the likes of Kent State leapers Khaliq Spicer and Jimmy Hall.
With his deft touch, Johnson got the third to fall.
As important as 3-point shooting has been to the Zips’ fortunes this season, they won’t make it though next week’s Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena without big contributions from “Big Dog.