Akron’s Nate Johnson, who scored the game-winning layup for the Zips, led the team with 22 points in the win over Miami (Ohio). (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Akron is heading to the big dance after a wild finish in the MAC tournament final. The Zips defeated Miami of Ohio 76-74 on a layup in the final seconds to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.

The game was a matchup of brother versus brother, as Akron head coach John Groce got the win over his half brother, Miami Ohio coach Travis Steele. Their mother, Barbara Steele, represented her split loyalty by wearing Akron blue but sitting in the Miami visitors’ section.

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The RedHawks led throughout most of the game, going up by as many as 18 points before Akron launched a comeback in the final minutes of the game. With the game tied at 74-all, Zips forward Amani Lyles got a long pass down the court to guard Nate Johnson, who hit a game-winning layup with two seconds left on the clock.

Johnson led the team in scoring with 22 points and five assists, while Lyles added six points and 14 rebounds. Miami guard Peter Suder led the team with a game-high 24 points, but it wasn’t enough for the win.

Groce and Steele, born 10 years apart, have followed mirroring career paths over the years; Steele has credited his older brother with giving him a passion for basketball. Since both becoming head coaches in the MAC conference, the two teams have met five times; Groce has only lost one of those meetings.

With the dramatic victory, Akron will advance to the NCAA tournament on an automatic bid for the second straight year, after winning the MAC conference tournament last year as well. The Zips have made it to March Madness seven times since joining Division I in 1980, but have not advanced past the first round.