The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, December 30
Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
4 PM
University of Akron
vs
St. Bonaventure
Zips Conclude 2023 With St. Bonaventure In Cleveland On Saturday
December 29 | Men's Basketball
Akron (8-3, 0-0 Mid-American) vs St. Bonaventure (8-3,0-0 Atlantic-10)
Saturday, Dec. 30 – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – Cleveland, Ohio
4:00 pm ET – ESPN+ - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 306-205 | At Akron: 124-73
St. Bonaventure: Mark Schimidt | Overall Record: 372-306| At St. Bonaventure: 290-216
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 2-1 Groce vs. St. Bonaventure: 1-2 Overall
First Meeting: 39-36 (W) At St. Bonaventure (1942)
Last Meeting: 81-74 (L) Vs St. Bonaventure (Cleveland, Ohio | Dec. 15, 2020)
Current Streak: 1L
QUICK HITS
The Akron Zips play their final game in 2023 when they head to Cleveland on December 30 to battle St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic-10 as part of the Legends of Basketball Showcase. Akron and St. Bonaventure can be viewed on ESPN+ with Jeff Phelps (PxP) Dave Bacon (Analyst). Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst). Live stats are also available on GoZips.com.
SCOUTING THE BONNIES
The Bonnies come into this matchup with an 8-3 overall record. The Bonnies are 2-0 against the MAC this season with a 90-60 win over Miami and a 94-60 victory over Buffalo. St. Bonaventure was riding a five-game winning streak before falling to No. 15/14 Florida Atlantic on December 16 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass.
St. Bonaventure was picked to finish third in the Atlantic-10.
The Bonnies were led by Moses Flowers' 25 points in the most recent victory over Binghamton.
Mika Adams-Woods leads the Bonnies with 15.2 ppg and 4.4 apg. Charles pride is the leading rebounder with 6.3 per game while Chad Venning leads the way with 18 blocks this season.
SBU comes in with the 16th best free throw percentage in the nation at 77.4%. They also spot the 42nd best s coring defense (64.5), 74th best scoring margin (+10.9), 52nd best 3-point percentage (37.2),61st 3-point percentage defense (29.6) and 79th best turnover margin (+2.4).
Adams-Woods is currently 36th in the country in fg% (.594) while Venning ranks 72nd in blocks per game (1.64).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips are running on a four-game win streak and stand at 8-3 overall. Akron has used a pair of four-game winning streaks to notch their eight wins this season.
Akron saw a pair of 20+ scoring performances from Ali Ali and Enrique Freeman before the Christmas break as the Zips won 94-90 against a scrappy Gardner-Webb squad.
Ali has scored in double figures in every game this season since being cleared to play by the NCAA and has recorded four or more rebounds twice.
Freeman has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds six times with the most recent being a 20 point, 20 rebound performance against Gardner-Webb.
The Zips are currently 78th in the country in assists per game (15.5), 43rd in effective fg% (.555), 74th in fg% (.473), 44th in rebound margin (+6.7), 84th in scoring defense (66.8), 67th in scoring margin (+11.5), 89th in 3pt% (.358), and 35th in 3-pointers made per game (9.5).
Sammy Hunter, who has made at least 0ne 3-pointer in every game this season, is 64th in the country in three point percentage (.400).
LAST TIME OUT (DEC. 21, 2023)
Ali Ali scored 29 points and Enrique Freeman added 20 and the Akron men's basketball team took down the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 94-90 at home Thursday.
Ali and Freeman's stellar scoring performances led the Zips (8-3) in the contest. Freeman added 20 rebounds and three blocks. Nate Johnson also helped out with nine points and five assists.
After falling behind 5-2, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 17:20 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Ali, to take a 9-5 lead. The Zips then added six points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 48-38 advantage.
Gardner-Webb proceeded to take a 74-73 lead before Akron went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Freeman's layup, to seize a 79-74 lead with 3:40 to go in the contest. The Runnin' Bulldogs then fought back to even things up at 84-84 and send the game to overtime. Akron took care of business in the paint, recording 18 of its 36 points in the lane.
Akron grabbed an 87-86 lead with 2:43 left in the first overtime before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Greg Tribble's three, to grow its advantage to 92-86 with 2:00 to go in the period. The Runnin' Bulldogs narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still held on for the 94-90 win.
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has nine double-doubles this season, ranking 1st in the NCAA and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-12 players in Div. 1 to average a double-double, while recording 20+ points and 10+ rebounds six times.
Additionally, he ranks 94th in total blocks (18), 72nd in blocks per game (1.64), 33rd in fg% (60.0), 77th in points per game (18.0), 3rd in total rebounds (148), 4th in def. rpg (9.55), 12th in off. rpg (3.91) and 1st in rebounds per game (13.5).
CLIMBING THE SCORING CHARTS
Enrique Freeman is 15th in all-time scoring in Akron history with 1,389 career points. He added 20 points against Gardner-Webb. Shawn Roberts (1985-89) is next with 1,413 career points.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENT PRESEASON RANKINGS
South Dakota State (Summit) - No. 1
Southern Mississippi (Sun Belt) - No. 4
Heidelberg (Ohio Athletic Conference) - No. 5
Florida International (CUSA) - No. 7
Utah State (Mountain West) - No. 9
Drake (Missouri Valley) - No. 1
UNLV (Mountain West) - No. 6
Bradley (Missouri Valley) - No. 3
Northern Kentucky (Horizon) - No. 1
Gardner-Webb - (Big South) - No. 4
St. Bonaventure - (Atlantic 10) - No. 3
HOW GROCE STACKS UP AT AKRON
John Groce currently has 124 wins as the head coach at Akron. He currently stands as the fifth-winningest coach in program history.
1. Keith Dambrot (305-139) 2005-17
2.Russell Beichly (288-144) 1941-59
3.Tony Laterza (178-59) 1960-68]
4. Wyatt Webb (126-60) 1969-75
5. John Groce (124-73) 2017-pres.
POINTS IN THE PAINT
The Zips have scored 30 or more points in the paint seven times this season and have scored 30 or more in the last five consecutive games.
ALI ALI JOINS THE PARTY
An All-MAC Preseason selection, Ali Ali was finally cleared to play with his first game of the season coming on the road at Northern Kentucky. Ali went 5-of-8 from the floor to collect 13 points. He also was tied for the team lead in assists with five against the Norse.
Ali has scored in double-figures in all three games he's played. Most recently he scored a season-high 29 points against Gardner-Webb to lead all scorers on a 9-of-11 shooting performance from the field while going 11-of-14 from the free throw line.
Ali has recorded four or more assists in two games this season and has hit five or more shots from the field twice as well.
An All-MAC second team award winner in 2021-22, Ali played for Butler the past season where he scored 6.5 ppg and had 2.7 rpg in 18 appearances and 12 starts.
BIG GAME SAMMY HUNTER
Sammy Hunter leads the Zip's long-range efforts with 28 made 3-pointers. He's currently shooting 40.0 percent from deep which leads Akron.
The long-range sniper recorded a 20-point performance at NKU on a 7-of-10 performance from the field and 5-of-7 from deep.
Making at least one 3-pointer in every game, Hunter has drained three or more 3's in five games.
GREG TRIBBLE - STAYING CONSISTENT
Among one of Akron's most consistent players, Greg Tribble acts as the primary cover on the oppositions best player and is Akron's best on-ball defender.
Tribble is averaging 8.7 points per game this season with double figure scoring in five games. He also leads the Zips in free throw percentage with a .875 clip. Starting every game this season, Tribble is third on the team with 29.2 minutes per game.
NATE JOHNSON - THE MICROWAVE
Nate Johnson is averaging 26.1 minutes per game and is 4th on the squad with 9.3 ppg. He's currently shooting .500 from the field while also averaging 3.2 rpg, 2.27 apg and 1.45 spg.
Johnson has scored in double figures six times this season, which is the second most on the Zips.
He has made at least four shots from the field five times this season.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 53-21 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 39-17 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 90-25 (.795) at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 222-103 overall (.681), including a 134-31 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 222 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 137 of their last 197 MAC games (.694).
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips begin MAC play with a trip to Northern Illinois on January 2 for a 8 pm start.
Saturday, Dec. 30 – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – Cleveland, Ohio
4:00 pm ET – ESPN+ - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 306-205 | At Akron: 124-73
St. Bonaventure: Mark Schimidt | Overall Record: 372-306| At St. Bonaventure: 290-216
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 2-1 Groce vs. St. Bonaventure: 1-2 Overall
First Meeting: 39-36 (W) At St. Bonaventure (1942)
Last Meeting: 81-74 (L) Vs St. Bonaventure (Cleveland, Ohio | Dec. 15, 2020)
Current Streak: 1L
QUICK HITS
- December will see the Zips play three home games, one road contest, and one neutral site game.
- Under coach Groce, the Zips have posted a 93-38 overall record over the past five seasons and a 53-21 conference record in that same span.
- Groce recorded his 300th career win with the 72-54 victory over Southern Miss on Nov. 10.
- Akron has made at least one 3-pointer in its last 748 games when it was held without a 3-pointer against Purdue in the 2000-01 season.
- Akron recorded its 1,700th win in program history with a 67-52 win against Bradley on Dec. 5.
- Under coach Groce, Akron is 40-1 at home against non-conference opponents at the JART.
- Under coach Groce, Akron is 81-14 (.852) at home.
- Freeman has recorded six games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds this season. The most recent was a 20-point, 20-reb performance against Gardner-Webb.
- Freeman recorded his 1,000th career rebound in the 77-71 win over FIU. Freeman is just the sixth player to record 1,000 points and rebound as a Zip.
- Freeman was named MAC POTW for the fourth time this season on Dec. 27.
- Sammy Hunter has recorded at least one 3pter in every game this season. He scored 20 pts at NKU on Dec.9.
The Akron Zips play their final game in 2023 when they head to Cleveland on December 30 to battle St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic-10 as part of the Legends of Basketball Showcase. Akron and St. Bonaventure can be viewed on ESPN+ with Jeff Phelps (PxP) Dave Bacon (Analyst). Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst). Live stats are also available on GoZips.com.
SCOUTING THE BONNIES
The Bonnies come into this matchup with an 8-3 overall record. The Bonnies are 2-0 against the MAC this season with a 90-60 win over Miami and a 94-60 victory over Buffalo. St. Bonaventure was riding a five-game winning streak before falling to No. 15/14 Florida Atlantic on December 16 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass.
St. Bonaventure was picked to finish third in the Atlantic-10.
The Bonnies were led by Moses Flowers' 25 points in the most recent victory over Binghamton.
Mika Adams-Woods leads the Bonnies with 15.2 ppg and 4.4 apg. Charles pride is the leading rebounder with 6.3 per game while Chad Venning leads the way with 18 blocks this season.
SBU comes in with the 16th best free throw percentage in the nation at 77.4%. They also spot the 42nd best s coring defense (64.5), 74th best scoring margin (+10.9), 52nd best 3-point percentage (37.2),61st 3-point percentage defense (29.6) and 79th best turnover margin (+2.4).
Adams-Woods is currently 36th in the country in fg% (.594) while Venning ranks 72nd in blocks per game (1.64).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips are running on a four-game win streak and stand at 8-3 overall. Akron has used a pair of four-game winning streaks to notch their eight wins this season.
Akron saw a pair of 20+ scoring performances from Ali Ali and Enrique Freeman before the Christmas break as the Zips won 94-90 against a scrappy Gardner-Webb squad.
Ali has scored in double figures in every game this season since being cleared to play by the NCAA and has recorded four or more rebounds twice.
Freeman has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds six times with the most recent being a 20 point, 20 rebound performance against Gardner-Webb.
The Zips are currently 78th in the country in assists per game (15.5), 43rd in effective fg% (.555), 74th in fg% (.473), 44th in rebound margin (+6.7), 84th in scoring defense (66.8), 67th in scoring margin (+11.5), 89th in 3pt% (.358), and 35th in 3-pointers made per game (9.5).
Sammy Hunter, who has made at least 0ne 3-pointer in every game this season, is 64th in the country in three point percentage (.400).
LAST TIME OUT (DEC. 21, 2023)
Ali Ali scored 29 points and Enrique Freeman added 20 and the Akron men's basketball team took down the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 94-90 at home Thursday.
Ali and Freeman's stellar scoring performances led the Zips (8-3) in the contest. Freeman added 20 rebounds and three blocks. Nate Johnson also helped out with nine points and five assists.
After falling behind 5-2, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 17:20 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Ali, to take a 9-5 lead. The Zips then added six points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 48-38 advantage.
Gardner-Webb proceeded to take a 74-73 lead before Akron went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Freeman's layup, to seize a 79-74 lead with 3:40 to go in the contest. The Runnin' Bulldogs then fought back to even things up at 84-84 and send the game to overtime. Akron took care of business in the paint, recording 18 of its 36 points in the lane.
Akron grabbed an 87-86 lead with 2:43 left in the first overtime before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Greg Tribble's three, to grow its advantage to 92-86 with 2:00 to go in the period. The Runnin' Bulldogs narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still held on for the 94-90 win.
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has nine double-doubles this season, ranking 1st in the NCAA and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-12 players in Div. 1 to average a double-double, while recording 20+ points and 10+ rebounds six times.
Additionally, he ranks 94th in total blocks (18), 72nd in blocks per game (1.64), 33rd in fg% (60.0), 77th in points per game (18.0), 3rd in total rebounds (148), 4th in def. rpg (9.55), 12th in off. rpg (3.91) and 1st in rebounds per game (13.5).
CLIMBING THE SCORING CHARTS
Enrique Freeman is 15th in all-time scoring in Akron history with 1,389 career points. He added 20 points against Gardner-Webb. Shawn Roberts (1985-89) is next with 1,413 career points.
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENT PRESEASON RANKINGS
South Dakota State (Summit) - No. 1
Southern Mississippi (Sun Belt) - No. 4
Heidelberg (Ohio Athletic Conference) - No. 5
Florida International (CUSA) - No. 7
Utah State (Mountain West) - No. 9
Drake (Missouri Valley) - No. 1
UNLV (Mountain West) - No. 6
Bradley (Missouri Valley) - No. 3
Northern Kentucky (Horizon) - No. 1
Gardner-Webb - (Big South) - No. 4
St. Bonaventure - (Atlantic 10) - No. 3
HOW GROCE STACKS UP AT AKRON
John Groce currently has 124 wins as the head coach at Akron. He currently stands as the fifth-winningest coach in program history.
1. Keith Dambrot (305-139) 2005-17
2.Russell Beichly (288-144) 1941-59
3.Tony Laterza (178-59) 1960-68]
4. Wyatt Webb (126-60) 1969-75
5. John Groce (124-73) 2017-pres.
POINTS IN THE PAINT
The Zips have scored 30 or more points in the paint seven times this season and have scored 30 or more in the last five consecutive games.
ALI ALI JOINS THE PARTY
An All-MAC Preseason selection, Ali Ali was finally cleared to play with his first game of the season coming on the road at Northern Kentucky. Ali went 5-of-8 from the floor to collect 13 points. He also was tied for the team lead in assists with five against the Norse.
Ali has scored in double-figures in all three games he's played. Most recently he scored a season-high 29 points against Gardner-Webb to lead all scorers on a 9-of-11 shooting performance from the field while going 11-of-14 from the free throw line.
Ali has recorded four or more assists in two games this season and has hit five or more shots from the field twice as well.
An All-MAC second team award winner in 2021-22, Ali played for Butler the past season where he scored 6.5 ppg and had 2.7 rpg in 18 appearances and 12 starts.
BIG GAME SAMMY HUNTER
Sammy Hunter leads the Zip's long-range efforts with 28 made 3-pointers. He's currently shooting 40.0 percent from deep which leads Akron.
The long-range sniper recorded a 20-point performance at NKU on a 7-of-10 performance from the field and 5-of-7 from deep.
Making at least one 3-pointer in every game, Hunter has drained three or more 3's in five games.
GREG TRIBBLE - STAYING CONSISTENT
Among one of Akron's most consistent players, Greg Tribble acts as the primary cover on the oppositions best player and is Akron's best on-ball defender.
Tribble is averaging 8.7 points per game this season with double figure scoring in five games. He also leads the Zips in free throw percentage with a .875 clip. Starting every game this season, Tribble is third on the team with 29.2 minutes per game.
NATE JOHNSON - THE MICROWAVE
Nate Johnson is averaging 26.1 minutes per game and is 4th on the squad with 9.3 ppg. He's currently shooting .500 from the field while also averaging 3.2 rpg, 2.27 apg and 1.45 spg.
Johnson has scored in double figures six times this season, which is the second most on the Zips.
He has made at least four shots from the field five times this season.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 53-21 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 39-17 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 90-25 (.795) at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 222-103 overall (.681), including a 134-31 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 222 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 137 of their last 197 MAC games (.694).
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips begin MAC play with a trip to Northern Illinois on January 2 for a 8 pm start.
Players Mentioned
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