The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
SUNY Brockport
Zips host SUNY Brockport for Final Home Game of 2024
December 06 | Men's Basketball
Akron (5-2, 0-0 Mid-American) vs SUNY Brockport (1-6, 0-0 Empire 8)
Saturday, Dec. 7 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
3:00 pm ET - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 327-215 | At Akron: 145-83
SUNY Brockport:Â Joe Clarke | Overall Record: 17-15 | At Brockport: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
First Meeting
Groce vs SUNY Brockport: 0-0
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
The SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles come into Saturday's contest with a 1-6 record and have lost their last six games.
The Golden Eagles started the season with a 98-70 over SUNY Canton at Case Western Reserve before falling in the next six contests. Brockport most recently fell to Rochester Institute of Technology, 83-78, at home. Four Golden Eagles scored in double-figures withJakhi Lucas scoring a team-high 15 points in the loss to the Tigers.
SUNY Brockport will look to make a splash in its Empire 8 debut this season. After going 12-6 and earning the third seed in the SUNYAC conference tournament last year, the Golden Eagles made an early exit in the tournament in the first round. Head coach Joe Clarke, going into his second season at Brockport, returns 10 players, including three starters. Junior Mekhi Beckett is slated to lead the way. Beckett was the top scorer for the Golden Eagles last season averaging 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Seniors Tony Arnold, Colby Jordan and Milo Scheve are also expected to be big contributors in 2024-25. Arnold, an all-SUNYAC third team selection, was right behind Beckett averaging 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while leading the team in steals with 49.
Zachary Rice currently leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 13.4. Tony Arnold leads the squad in assists (3.9), rebounds (6.7) and steals (3.3). Two Golden Eagles are tied for the lead in blocks with three.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Akron Zips return to the JAR after defeating Northern Kentucky 86-73 on Tuesday, December 3 for their fifth straight home win.
The Zips will have played five straight home contests before hitting the road for the rest of December when they travel to Milwaukee, WI., El Paso, Texas and Princeton, N.J. Akron is 5-2 on the season and holds a 5-0 record at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Tavari Johnson and James Okonkwo posted career-highs in scoring to power the Zips past the Norse. Johnson scored 27 points on an 8-of-11 night while going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Okonkwo scored 17 on a 5-of-5Â shooting night and a 7-of-7 performance from the free throw line.
Akron has seen points come from multiple avenues, as three players average 10 or more points while seven currently average eight or more points per game. Nate Johnson currently paces the Zips offense with 12.4 ppg while Tavari Johnson (11.9) and Isaiah Gray (10.4) join N.Johnson in double-figure scoring. The Zips also have three players averaging three or more assists per game, with T. Johnson leading the way with 4.3 per game. N. Johnson also serves as the leader in steals with 1.6 while James Okonkwo leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.7) and total blocks (8)
The Zips rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring (1st - 83.6), scoring margin (2nd - +7.7), 3pt percentage (1st - .384), 3pters made (1st - 12.6), free throw percentage (4th - .739), rebounding (3rd - 38.3), off. rebounds (1st - 13.4), rebound margin (4th - +2.14), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +1.75) and assists (1st - 20.0).
In the NCAA, Akron ranks 14th in assist-turnover ratio (+2.14), 6th in assists per game (21.3), 22nd in bench points per game (33.43), 30th in off. rebounds per game (14.14), 76th in rebounds (39.29), 40th in scoring offense (83.6), 34th in 3pt percentage (.384) and 2nd in 3pters made per game (12.6).
Individually, Amani Lyles is 60th in the NCAA for off. rebounds per game (3.0).
NON-CONFERENCE FOES AT THE JAR
Under John Groce, Akron is currently 45-1 (.978) at home against non-conference opponents. Akron is on a 35-0 run against non-conference foes at the JAR since losing to Marshall on Dec. 15, 2018.Â
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 474-135 (.778) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 17 seasons, Akron has posted a 270-40 (.871) record at the JAR. The Zips recorded a 13-1 record at the JAR last season and had won their last 16 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season before falling to EMU on March 5, 2024.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 92-15 (.859) at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23 and 13-1 in 2023-24.
Akron owns a 102-21 (.829) home-opening record and 38-4 (.905) at Rhodes Arena. The Zips have been winners in the last 22-of-23 home opening games. Akron is 21-8 in MAC openers, and 12-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 18 seasons, the Zips are 15-3 in MAC openers and 7-1 at home. Akron has won the last 9-of-10 MAC openers.
Akron went 12-4 at Rhodes Arena in Groce's first year as head coach and followed with a 14-3 effort. The Zips went 15-2 at home in 2019-20 en route to the regular season MAC Championship. The Zips set the all-time longest home winning streak record at Rhodes Arena with 30 consecutive wins during the 2015-17 seasons, replacing the 26-game run the Zips made during the 1985-87 seasons under head coach Bob Huggins. The streak ranked No. 2 in the NCAA.
RAINING 3'S
The Zips have made 10 or more 3-pointers in six 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.
A HALF DOESN'T MAKE A GAME, BUT...
So far this season, the Zips are 5-0 when leading at the half compared to a 0-2 record when trailing at the half.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips hit the road for the MKE Tip-off as they battle Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wi., on Sunday, December 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
