Courtesy: Robert Barclay/CMU Jordan Bitzer squares up to the rim against Akron on Tuesday in CMU's 56-52 loss at Rose Center. Bitzer scored his 1,000th career point on a jumper at the 7:27 mark of the first half against the Zips.

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Jordan Bitzer became the 26th player in Central Michigan men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, scoring a game-high 20, but the Akron Zips used a 17-5 run over the game's final eight minutes to steal a 56-52 Mid-American Conference victory against the Chippewas at Rose Center on Tuesday.

The 20-point effort was Bitzer's fourth of the season and seventh in his career. He entered the day needing just two points to hit 1,000, and he connected on a jumper with 7:27 remaining in the first half to hit the hallowed mark.

He's the first Chippewa to join the club since Giordan Watson (2005-08), who finished his career with 1,763 tallies.

After CMU fell behind by as many as six in the first half, it was a Bitzer three-pointer in the final seconds of the frame that sent the two sides into the break tied at 27.

Despite the fact that the Maroon and Gold's offense never got into rhythm, the Chippewas used a 10-0 run to take the largest lead for either team in the contest at 11, 41-30, with 14:05 to play.

CMU's lead sat at eight, 47-39, after a dunk by William McClure with 7:49 left, but the Chippewas missed their next seven shots before Bitzer hit back-to-back buckets to drag CMU back in front by five, 51-46, with 2:21 remaining.

Unfortunately, Central would not hit another field goal the rest of the way (0-for-4), and after tying the game at 52, Akron would seal the victory with four free throws in the final minute, part of a perfect day at the stripe for the Zips (12-for-12).

CMU finished at 29 percent from the field, 33 percent from long range (8-for-24). UA hit 43 percent of its shots and 40 percent of its threes (6-for-15). The Chippewas stayed in the contest thanks to 24 offensive rebounds (20 second-chance points), although the Zips won the rebounding battle, 38-35. Akron was also able to get inside, outscoring Central Michigan 24-10 in the paint.

Bitzer's 20 led all scorers, and Robbie Harman hit three three-pointers to finish with 13. McClure was the only other Chippewa with more than three points (seven), and also grabbed a team-best eight boards, four steals and blocked two shots.

Harman (198 career threes) now sits one three-point bucket behind Watson for the program's three-point record (199).

It's the first time all season CMU has lost back-to-back home games and just the fourth occurrence under fourth-year head coach Ernie Zeigler. CMU (11-11, 6-4 MAC) will hit the road to face the Ohio Bobcats in Athens on Thursday.