The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, January 27
Oxford, Ohio
1 PM
University of Akron
at
Miami
Zips Travel To Battle The RedHawks on Saturday
January 26 | Men's Basketball
Akron (15-4, 7-0 Mid-American) at Miami (OH) University (9-10, 3-4 Mid-American)
Saturday, Jan. 27 – Millett Hall – Oxford, Ohio
1:00 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 312-206 | At Akron: 130-74
Miami: Travis Steele | Overall Record: 91-80 | At Miami: 21-30
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 37-32 Groce vs. Miami 8-3 (14-6 Overall)
First Meeting: Miami 45, Akron 14 in Oxford on Feb. 20, 1915
Last Meeting: Akron 73, Miami 68 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 24, 2023
In Akron:22-9 |Neutral: 2-1 | In Oxford: 13-22 |Current Streak: 8 W
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron Zips travel to face the Miami RedHawks in conference play on Saturday, January 27 for the 70th all-time meeting. Akron and Miami can be viewed on ESPN+ with Steve Baker (PxP), Randy Hollowell (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 REDHAWKS
The RedHawks come into Saturday's contests 9-10 overall and 3-4 in the MAC. Miami is tied with Ohio and Kent State with a 3-4 conference record. After winning an 87-80 contest at Ball State to break a two-game losing skid, the RedHawks recently fell 71-55 to Central Michigan.
Dawweshi Hunter led the Redhawks in scoring with 16 points while also recording three rebounds. Anderson Mirambeaux (13) and Mekhi Cooper (11) also scored in double-figures.
The RedHawks are averaging 74.1 points per game while outscoring their opponents by +2.6 per game. Miami is 9th in the MAC in scoring average, 6th in scoring margin and 5th in scoring defense (71.5). Miami is currently shooting .469 from the field, .373 from beyond the arc while making 8.2 three-pointers per game. The RedHawks are currently 3rd in the MAC in shooting percentage, 4th in Opp. shooting percentage (.439),1st in 3pt percentage, and 1st in Opp. 3pt fg% (.291).
Mirambeaux is the leading scorer so far this season for the RedHawks with 13.8 points per game. Darweshi (12.6) is the only other RedHawk in double-figure scoring. Bryce Bultman leads the way in rebounds (5.4) and assists (2.8) while Jaquel Morris is the team's leading blocker with 18.
The RedHawks are 97th in the country in assist-turnover ratio (+1.29), 63rd in assists per game (15.5), 23rd in bench points (29.37), 64th in effective fg% (.541), 75th in fg% (.468), 36th in 3pt fg% (.373), and 19th in 3pt defense (.291).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips keep on winning as they pushed their winning streak to seven after defeating Ohio 67-58 at James A. Rhodes Arena on January 23. Akron also extended its home winning streak to nine this season and 12 overall which extends to last season.
Akron was led by Enrique Freeman's 19 point, 14 rebound double-double. Greg Tribble and Shammah Scott both added 10 points and two blocks each in the win against the Bobcats.
Freeman leads the Zips in points per game (18.6), rebounds per game (12.9), and total blocks (31). Kaleb Thronton is the leader in steals (1.2) and assists (2.9).
The Zips hold the MAC's best scoring margin (+11.1) and scoring defense (65.5). Akron also holds the conference's best fg percentage (.471) and opponent fg percentage (.426)
The Zips are 40th in the country in effective fg% (.548), 61st in fg% (.471), 72nd in rebound margin (+4.4), 41st in scoring defense (65.5), scoring margin (11.1), 90th in 3pt fg% (.358), and 59th in 3pters made per game (8.8).
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game marks the 70th meeting in series history between Akron and Miami, and 21st meeting for a Groce coached squad (14-6), 12th at Akron (8-3). Akron leads the series 37-32, and the Zips have won the last eight meetings, including a sweep in 2022 and the lone meeting in 2023.
Akron is 22-9 at home, 2-1 at neutral site courts and 13-22 in Oxford. Akron is also on an eight game winning streak against the RedHawks.
Akron and Miami have met five times in the MAC Tournament with the series at 3-2 in Akron's favor. The Zips are 2-1 in Cleveland and 1-0 at home against the RedHawks. Akron dropped a first-round game in Oxford (69-56, 2001).
LAST TIME AGAINST MIAMI (JAN 24, 2023)
AKRON, Ohio – In Mid-American Conference defensive battle, the Akron Zips traded shots with the visiting Miami RedHawks before emerging with a gritty 73-68 win on Tuesday at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The game was close throughout, with neither side leading by more than seven points at any juncture. The Zips took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by senior guard Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.), who hit another crucial deep shot moments later with his team leading by just two points.
Castaneda led all scorers with 32 points, topping 30 points for the fourth time this season. Junior forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) overcame foul trouble to post 13 points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Kobe Mitchell (Cadiz, Ohio) added nine for Akron.
It was Castaneda who delivered big play after big play to power the win, none bigger than his top-of-the-key three with 55.6 seconds remaining to give Akron (14-6, 6-1 MAC) a five-point lead (69-64).
Despite a slow start offensively, the Zips never let Miami build a significant lead, relying on the MAC's leading scoring defense to keep the contest close. The RedHawks (7-13, 1-6 MAC) managed just two made 3-pointers in 11 attempts in the first half and converted just 12-of-28 field goal attempts overall prior to intermission.
ON THE ROAD
Akron is 5-1 in true road games this season. The Zips have posted wins over South Dakota State (81-75), Northern Kentucky (77-76), NIU (73-51), Ball State (80-76), and Kent State (77-71) while falling to UNLV (72-70).
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has 16 double-doubles this season, ranking 2nd in the NCAA and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-11 players in Div. 1 to average a double-double, while recording 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 10 times. Freeman recorded 11 consecutive double-doubles from Nov. 28 to Jan. 16.
Additionally, he ranks 70th in total blocks (31), 71st in blocks per game (1.63), 33rd in fg% (.588), 53rd in fg made (127), 45th in made free throws (92), 65th in total points (335), 61st in points (354), 63rd in points per game (18.6), 2nd in total rebounds (246), 2nd in def. rpg (9.47), 21st in off. rpg (3.47) and 1st in rebounds per game (12.9).
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron stays on the road as it travels to battle Eastern Michigan on January 30 for a 7 pm start.
Saturday, Jan. 27 – Millett Hall – Oxford, Ohio
1:00 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 312-206 | At Akron: 130-74
Miami: Travis Steele | Overall Record: 91-80 | At Miami: 21-30
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 37-32 Groce vs. Miami 8-3 (14-6 Overall)
First Meeting: Miami 45, Akron 14 in Oxford on Feb. 20, 1915
Last Meeting: Akron 73, Miami 68 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 24, 2023
In Akron:22-9 |Neutral: 2-1 | In Oxford: 13-22 |Current Streak: 8 W
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron Zips travel to face the Miami RedHawks in conference play on Saturday, January 27 for the 70th all-time meeting. Akron and Miami can be viewed on ESPN+ with Steve Baker (PxP), Randy Hollowell (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 REDHAWKS
The RedHawks come into Saturday's contests 9-10 overall and 3-4 in the MAC. Miami is tied with Ohio and Kent State with a 3-4 conference record. After winning an 87-80 contest at Ball State to break a two-game losing skid, the RedHawks recently fell 71-55 to Central Michigan.
Dawweshi Hunter led the Redhawks in scoring with 16 points while also recording three rebounds. Anderson Mirambeaux (13) and Mekhi Cooper (11) also scored in double-figures.
The RedHawks are averaging 74.1 points per game while outscoring their opponents by +2.6 per game. Miami is 9th in the MAC in scoring average, 6th in scoring margin and 5th in scoring defense (71.5). Miami is currently shooting .469 from the field, .373 from beyond the arc while making 8.2 three-pointers per game. The RedHawks are currently 3rd in the MAC in shooting percentage, 4th in Opp. shooting percentage (.439),1st in 3pt percentage, and 1st in Opp. 3pt fg% (.291).
Mirambeaux is the leading scorer so far this season for the RedHawks with 13.8 points per game. Darweshi (12.6) is the only other RedHawk in double-figure scoring. Bryce Bultman leads the way in rebounds (5.4) and assists (2.8) while Jaquel Morris is the team's leading blocker with 18.
The RedHawks are 97th in the country in assist-turnover ratio (+1.29), 63rd in assists per game (15.5), 23rd in bench points (29.37), 64th in effective fg% (.541), 75th in fg% (.468), 36th in 3pt fg% (.373), and 19th in 3pt defense (.291).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips keep on winning as they pushed their winning streak to seven after defeating Ohio 67-58 at James A. Rhodes Arena on January 23. Akron also extended its home winning streak to nine this season and 12 overall which extends to last season.
Akron was led by Enrique Freeman's 19 point, 14 rebound double-double. Greg Tribble and Shammah Scott both added 10 points and two blocks each in the win against the Bobcats.
Freeman leads the Zips in points per game (18.6), rebounds per game (12.9), and total blocks (31). Kaleb Thronton is the leader in steals (1.2) and assists (2.9).
The Zips hold the MAC's best scoring margin (+11.1) and scoring defense (65.5). Akron also holds the conference's best fg percentage (.471) and opponent fg percentage (.426)
The Zips are 40th in the country in effective fg% (.548), 61st in fg% (.471), 72nd in rebound margin (+4.4), 41st in scoring defense (65.5), scoring margin (11.1), 90th in 3pt fg% (.358), and 59th in 3pters made per game (8.8).
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game marks the 70th meeting in series history between Akron and Miami, and 21st meeting for a Groce coached squad (14-6), 12th at Akron (8-3). Akron leads the series 37-32, and the Zips have won the last eight meetings, including a sweep in 2022 and the lone meeting in 2023.
Akron is 22-9 at home, 2-1 at neutral site courts and 13-22 in Oxford. Akron is also on an eight game winning streak against the RedHawks.
Akron and Miami have met five times in the MAC Tournament with the series at 3-2 in Akron's favor. The Zips are 2-1 in Cleveland and 1-0 at home against the RedHawks. Akron dropped a first-round game in Oxford (69-56, 2001).
LAST TIME AGAINST MIAMI (JAN 24, 2023)
AKRON, Ohio – In Mid-American Conference defensive battle, the Akron Zips traded shots with the visiting Miami RedHawks before emerging with a gritty 73-68 win on Tuesday at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The game was close throughout, with neither side leading by more than seven points at any juncture. The Zips took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by senior guard Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.), who hit another crucial deep shot moments later with his team leading by just two points.
Castaneda led all scorers with 32 points, topping 30 points for the fourth time this season. Junior forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) overcame foul trouble to post 13 points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Kobe Mitchell (Cadiz, Ohio) added nine for Akron.
It was Castaneda who delivered big play after big play to power the win, none bigger than his top-of-the-key three with 55.6 seconds remaining to give Akron (14-6, 6-1 MAC) a five-point lead (69-64).
Despite a slow start offensively, the Zips never let Miami build a significant lead, relying on the MAC's leading scoring defense to keep the contest close. The RedHawks (7-13, 1-6 MAC) managed just two made 3-pointers in 11 attempts in the first half and converted just 12-of-28 field goal attempts overall prior to intermission.
ON THE ROAD
Akron is 5-1 in true road games this season. The Zips have posted wins over South Dakota State (81-75), Northern Kentucky (77-76), NIU (73-51), Ball State (80-76), and Kent State (77-71) while falling to UNLV (72-70).
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has 16 double-doubles this season, ranking 2nd in the NCAA and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-11 players in Div. 1 to average a double-double, while recording 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 10 times. Freeman recorded 11 consecutive double-doubles from Nov. 28 to Jan. 16.
Additionally, he ranks 70th in total blocks (31), 71st in blocks per game (1.63), 33rd in fg% (.588), 53rd in fg made (127), 45th in made free throws (92), 65th in total points (335), 61st in points (354), 63rd in points per game (18.6), 2nd in total rebounds (246), 2nd in def. rpg (9.47), 21st in off. rpg (3.47) and 1st in rebounds per game (12.9).
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron stays on the road as it travels to battle Eastern Michigan on January 30 for a 7 pm start.
Players Mentioned
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