The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Milwaukee
Zips Battle Milwaukee in the MKE Tip-Off on Sunday
December 14 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Zips travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to battle Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum on Sunday, December 15 as part of the MKE Tip-Off triple header. The Zips and Panthers will meet for just the third time in program history. Fans can watch Akron battle Milwaukee on ESPN+ with Scott Warras (PxP) on the call. Fans can also listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst) on the call. Live stats are also available on GoZips.com/coverage.
Akron (6-2, 0-0 Mid-American) at Milwaukee (7-4, 0-0 Horizon)
Sunday, Dec. 15 – Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wis.
1:30 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 328-215 | At Akron: 146-83
Milwaukee:Â Bart Lundy | Overall Record: 478-221 | At Milwaukee: 49-31
ALL-TIME SERIES
Series Tied 1-1 | Groce vs Milwaukee: 0-0
First Met: Feb. 4, 1980 (L, Milwaukee 82 - Akron 69) At Milwaukee
Last Meeting: Dec. 23, 1989 (W,Akron 83, Milwaukee 56) At Akron
Current Streak, W1
INSIDE THE SERIES
Akron and Milwaukee will play for just the third time in program history. The Zips lost to Milwaukee in the inaugural meeting in the Zips last season as a Div. II school 82-69 on February 4, 1980 in Milwaukee. Akron won the most recent meeting, 83-56, in Akron on Dec. 23, 1989.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
The Milwaukee Panthers come into Sunday with a 7-4 overall record and a 2-0 record in the Horizon League after defeating Green Bay in the Battle of I-43, 86-67 on the road.
Milwaukee has won three of irs last five along with winning back-to-back conference games. The two defeats came at UCF and Southern Miss.
The Panthers were selected to finish first in the Horizon League preseason poll and received 15 first place votes. Purdue Fort Wayne was picked second and got 14 first place votes.
One season after being selected in second place to mark the highest choice in over a decade, the Panthers are No. 1 for the first time since prior to the 2006-07 campaign.
In addition, Erik Pratt and AJ McKee were named to the Preseason All-League Second Team. McKee was also named to the Lou Henson 'Early Season' Watch List in late November.
Against Green Bay, Jamichael Stillwell led the Panthers with a 24-point, 19-rebound double double. Three other Panthers also finished in double figure scoring to secure the victory. Kentrell Pullian was two rebounds shy of joining Stillwell with a double-double after scoring 18 points and hauling in eight boards.
Milwaukee has four players averaging double figures in scoring that've played at least 10 games. Themus Fulks leads the scoring with 14.3 per game while also leading the squad with 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Stillwell averages a team high 11.5 rebounds per game while Darrius Duffy has recorded 16 blocks on the season.
The Panthers are top five in the Horizon League in scoring (2nd - 79.3), scoring margin (3rd - +6.9), FG percentage (3rd - .476), opp. 3-point percentage (5th - .337), rebounds (1st - 42.1), opp. rebounds (1st - 29.6), off. rebounds (1st - 15.7), def. rebounds (26.4), rebound margin (1st - +12.5), blocks (4th - 3.27), assists (5th - 13.36) and steals (5th - 7.45).
Milwaukee ranks 12th in the NCAA in fastbreak points (17.45), 80th in fg percentage (.476), 74th in free throw attempts per game (22.6), 5th in rebound margin (12.5), 6th in off. rebounds (24.09) and 17th in rebounds per game (42.09).Â
Individually, the Panthers have Faulks ranked 23rd in the NCAA in total assists (58), 54th in assists per game (5.3), 83rd in fg percentage (.537) and 92nd in total steals (19). Duffy is ranked 62nd in blocks (16). Stillwell is ranked 1st in the NCAA for total rebounds (127), 18th in def. rebounds (7.27), 5th in off. rebounds (4.27) and 3rd in rebounds per game (11.5).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Akron Zips leave the friendly confins of James A. Rhodes Arena to battle the Milwaukee Panthers after winning their last six home games. Akron is 6-2 with all six wins coming at the JAR.
Along with the matchup against Milwaukee as part of the MKE Tip-Off, the Zips will spend the remainder of December on the road with trips to El Paso, Texas, and Princeton N.J. on the calender.
Against SUNY Brockport, the Zips saw seven players score in double figures in a 101-48 victory over the Golden Eagles at home Saturday, December 7. Bowen Hardman, James Okonkwo and Marvin Musiime-Kamali all recorded career-highs against Brockport.
Bowen Hardman led the Akron offense with a career-high 20 points, Okonkwo added a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds while Musiime-Kamali recorded a career-high 11 rebounds with six coming on the offensive end.
The Zips have seen scoring come from multiple avenues with nine players averaging eight or more points per game while three Zips average 10 or more points.
Akron is led in scoring by Nate Johnson's 12.4 points per game while Tavari Johnson is second with 11.9. T. Johnson is also the leader in assists with 4.1. N. Johnson leads the Blue and Gold in steals with 1.6 while James Okonkwo serves as the leader in rebounds with 8.8 and total blocks with 8.
The Zips rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring (1st - 85.8), scoring margin (1st - +13.4), opp. fg percentage (5th - .428), 3pt percentage (2nd - .366), opp. 3pt percentage (5th - .314), 3pters made (1st - 12.6), FT percentage (4th - .750), rebounding (1st - 41.5), off. rebounds (1st - 14.1), def. rebounds (27.4), rebound margin (3rd - +5.1), assist-turnover ratio (2nd - +1.79) and assists (1st - 20.13).
Akron ranks 15th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.79), 4th in assists per game (20.1), 21st in bench points (33.50), 87th in fastbreak points (13.00), 76th in free throw percentage (.750), 81st in rebound margin (+5.8), 63rd in def. rebounds (27.63), 16th in off. rebounds (14.75), 16th in rebounds per game (42.38), 59th in rebound margin (+13.4), 22nd in scoring offense (85.8), 82nd in 3pt percentage (.366), 2nd in 3pters made per game (12.6) and 98th in turnover margin (+2.3).
Individualy, Okonkwo ranks 75th in the NCAA for def. rebounds per game (5.75), tied for 60th in off. rebounds with Amani Lyles (3.0) and is 41st in rebounds per game (8.8). Hardman is 66th in 3-point percentage (.426).
CAREER NIGHT AGAINST THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Akron saw three Zips post career bests in a 101-48 victory over SUNY Brockport on Saturday, December 7 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Bowen Hardman recorded a career-high 20 points to lead the Zips in scoring. James Okonkwo recorded a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds while Marvin Musiime-Kamali recorded a career-high 11 rebounds with six coming on the offensive end.
LONG RANGE ARTILLERYÂ
The Zips currently have six players with 10 or more 3's made this season. Bowen Hardman leads the list with 20 while Tavari Johnson is second on the squad with 13 made 3's this season. Nate Johnson (12), Sharron Young (11), Josiah Harris (11) and Isaiah Gray (10) round out the list.
RAINING 3'S
The Zips have made 10 or more 3-pointers in seven games this season while hitting 15 or more in three games. Akron connected on a season-high 18 3's against against Omaha on November 23.
COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks in the top 25 in the NCAA for bench production with over 33 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded six games with 30 or more points and two games with 40 or more points. The Akron bench recorded a season high 45 points against Alabama State on November 24.
A WISE MAN SAID "iT TAKES A VILLAGE"
The Zips have seen scoring come from multiple avenues with nine players averaging eight or more points per game while three Zips average 10 or more points.Â
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips travel to El Paso, Texas, to compete in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invite from December 20-21. Akron is set to battle Yale on the first day and will play either host UTEP or Jackson State to conclude the Sun Bowl.
