EL PASO, Texas -- Antino Jackson scored 23 points off the bench to lead Akron to an 88-80 win over UC Irvine on Wednesday night.

The game took place in the opening round of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational which also features Maryland-Eastern Shore and host UTEP. The Zips (9-3) play the winner of the Hawks-Miners game on Thursday.

Jackson finished 8 of 11 from the field. Josh Williams added 18 points for the Zips, all of which came from behind the 3-point line. Akron drained 15 3-pointers.

Jaron Martin led UC Irvine (5-9) with 20 points. The Anteaters have lost four straight.

Akron held a two-point lead at the half but pushed it to 10, 56-46, early in the second after a Williams 3. UC Irvine managed to cut its deficit to 61-59 but five consecutive points by Tavian Dunn-Martin extended it to seven and the Zips held on from there.