The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Zips Host Toledo on Tuesday
January 13 | Men's Basketball
Akron (10-5, 2-0 Mid-American) vs Toledo (9-6, 3-0 Mid-American)
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 332-218 | At Akron: 150-86
Toledo:Â Tod Kowalczyk | Overall Record:423-299 | At Toledo: 287-187
ALL-TIME SERIES
Toledo Leads: 42-30 | Groce vs. Toledo: 3-9 At Akron | 8-10 Overall
First Met: 1915-16 season (W, Akron 37, Toledo 8) At Akron
Last Met: Feb. 20, 2024 (L, Toledo 72, Akron 64) At Toledo
At Akron: 19-13 | Neutral: 2-1 | At Toledo: 9-28
Current Streak: 1L
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's game marks the 73rd meeting in series history between Akron and Toledo, and the 19th meeting for a Groce coached squad (13th at Akron). Toledo owns a 42-30 all-time series advantage while Groce is 8-10 all-time and 3-9 at Akron against the Rockets. The Zips have won 11 of the last 24 meetings and snapped a four-game losing skid with a 95-94 overtime win on Jan. 16, 2021, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips took down the Rockets 77-70 at James A. Rhodes Arena in the first meeting between these two teams on February 2, while falling 72-64 in Toledo to split the series last season. 2023 saw Toledo sweep the series with an 84-74 win at the JAR (Feb. 7) and an 84-63 win in Toledo (Feb.21). In 2022, the Rockets won the regular season matchup 84-67 on Jan. 28, but the Zips retaliated by knocking off the No. 1 seeded Rockets in the 2022 MAC Tournament and advancing to the NCAA First Round. Akron is 17-13 all-time at Rhodes Arena, 10-27 on the road at Savage Arena, and 2-1 in the MAC Tournament with a loss at Quicken Loans Arena.
SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
Toledo comes into Tuesday with a 9-6 overall record, a 3-0 record in the MAC and a 3-4 record on the road. The Rockets have won their first three MAC contest and join Akon, Miami and Ohio as the only undefeated MAC schools.
The Rockets recently defended Savage Arena from Central Michigan on a nationally televised game, defeating the Chippewas 69-67 on January 10. Four Rockets scored in double figures with Javan Simmons leading the charge with 17 points and eight rebounds. Sam Lewis added 15 points while Sonny Wilson and Bryce Ford rounded out the list.
Toledo also features two in-conference transfers in Isaiah Adams (Buffalo) and Seth Hubbard (Western Mich.).
Wilson leads Toledo in points (15.3) and assists (3.3) this season. Sam Lewis is the leading rebounder with 5.7 per game and Isaiah Adams leads the way in steals with 1.3. Adams and Jaylan Ouwinga are tied for the lead in blocks this season with nine each.
The Rockets average 77.3 points per game and have been outscored by their opponents this season by 0.1 points per game. Toledo is shooting .463 from the field and .329 from beyond the arc with 6.1 3-point shots falling per game. The Rockets average 34.5 rebounds, 14.2 assists,9.9 turnovers, 5.6 steals and 2.9 blocks per game.Â
Toledo ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (5th - 77.3), fg percentage (3rd - .463), off. rebounds (5th - 10.0), turnover margin (5th - +1.73), assist-turnover ratio (2nd - +1.43) and assists (5th - 14.20).
Toledo ranks 60th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.43), 54th in fewest fouls per game (15.2), and 22nd for fewest turnover per game (9.9). Sonny Lewis is 73rd in the NCAA for field goal pct. (.530).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips host the Toledo Rockets in a battle of undefeated MAC teams on Tuesday. Akron comes in with a 10-5 overall record, a 3-0 record in the MAC and a 7-0 record at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips are coming off a 105-81 victory at Eastern Michigan on January 11 where seven Zips scored in double figures and all 11 Zips that played scored. Tavari Johnson also became the first Zip since Loren Cristian Jackson to record a double-double in points and assists. Akron's 105 points marks just second time an opponent has surpassed 100 points in the 377 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center (since 1998-99). Florida Atlantic scored 101 points, Dec. 4, 2022, making the 2023 Final Four.
T. Johnson leads the Zips in points (12.3) and assists (3.9) this season. Nate Johnson is second on the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game and second in assists with 3.5 while serving as the leader in steals with 1.6 per game. James Okonkwo leads Akron in rebounds per game (8.3) and total blocked shot (17).
On the season, three Zips are averaging 10 or more points per game while six are scoring eight or more per game.
Akron is currently scoring 82.1 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 8.8 points per game this season. The Zips are shooting .440 from the field, .354 from beyond the arc and averages 11.5 3's per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .755 ft percentage while averaging 39.7 rebounds, 17.7 assists,12.5 turnovers, 8.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.
Akron is in the top five in the MAC for scoring offense (2nd - 82.1), scoring defense (5th - 73.3), scoring margin (2nd - +8.8) , opp. fg pct (4th - .433), 3pt pct ( 3rd - .354), opp. 3pt pct (5th - .332), 3pters made (1st - 11.5), ft pct (1st .755, rebounds (1st - 39.7), off. rebounds (3rd - 13.0), def. rebounds (2nd - 26.7), rebound margin (4th - +2.5), assist-turnover margin (3rd - +1.42), turnover margin (4th - +1.93), assists (1st - 17.73) and steals (2nd - 8.20).
The Zips rank 64th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.42), 18th in assists per game (17.7), 13th in bench points (33.67), 45th in fastbreak points (14.07), 65th in free throw pct. (.755), 72nd in def. rebounds (26.80), 33rd in off. rebounds (13.33), 27th in rebounds per game (40.13), 93rd in scoring margin (+8.8), 39th in scoring offense (82.1), 74th in steals per game (8.2), 4th in 3-pointers attempted (32.6), 5th in 3's made per game (11.5), 95th in turnover margin (+1.9) and 58th in turnovers forced per game (14.40). James Okonkwo ranks 30th in the NCAA in off. rebounds per game (3.27) and 57th in rebounds per game (8.3).
LAST TIME OUT (ATÂ EASTERNÂ MICHIGAN 1/11/25)
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Seven Zips scored in double digits while head coach John Groce recorded his 150th victory at Akron in a 105-81 victory over Eastern Michigan on the road Saturday.
Along with seven Zips scoring in double digits, all 11 Zips that appeared against the Eagles scored. Tavari Johnson also became the first Zip since Loren Cristian Jackson to record a double-double in points and assists. T. Johnson recorded 10 points and 10 assists against the Eagles. Jackson recorded the feat on Feb. 19, 2011Â when he scored 12 points and dished out 11 assists at Ball State.
Akron's 105 points marks just second time an opponent has surpassed 100 points in the 377 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center (since 1998-99). Florida Atlantic scored 101 points, Dec. 4, 2022, making the 2023 Final Four.
The Zips (10-5, 3-0) were led by James Okonkwo, who had 17 points while going 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Isaiah Gray tacked on 13 points and three steals and Nate Johnson helped out with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Akron was effective at shooting the ball against Eastern Michigan, hitting over 60 percent of their shots (37-of-61).
The Zips also recorded a season-high 54 points in the paint and 47 points from the bench.
The Akron offense was very productive from deep, making nine threes on 21 attempts. Bowen Hardman was the most prolific shooter for the Zips, draining three treys in the contest.
The Akron defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday's game, forcing 15 Eastern Michigan. Those takeaways turned into 27 points on the offensive end of the floor. Johnson's four steals led the way individually for the Zips.
LAST TIME AGAINST TOLEDOÂ (3/5/24)
TOLEDO, Ohio - Down by as many as 15, the Akron men's basketball team cut the Toledo Rocket's lead to four with 2:19 left in the second but ultimately fell 72-64 on the road Tuesday.
Enrique Freeman collected his 23rd double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and moved into fourth among Akron's all-time scorers.
The Zips (19-7, 11-2) had four players score in double figures, led by Greg Tribble, who had 19 points. Freeman added a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Ali Ali chipped in as well with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Akron out-rebounded Toledo 40-38 in Tuesday's game, paced by Freeman's 15 boards. The Zips also pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second chance points.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 476-135 (.779) all-time record at James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 17 seasons, Akron has posted a 272-40 (.872) 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 94-15 (.862) at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23 and 13-1 in 2023- 24. Akron is 7-0 at the JAR in 2024-25.
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.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 68-25 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.731) in the league. The Zips are 54-22 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 101-28 (.783) 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 237-108 overall (.687), including a 143-32 mark in MAC play at home (.817). The Zips' 237 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 152 of their last 217 MAC games (.700).
THIS HASN'T HAPPEND IN A WHILE
Tavari Johnson became the first Zip to post a double-double in points and assists when he scored 10 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists against Eastern Michigan on January 11, 2025. The Last Zip to record this feat was Loren Cristian Jackson when he scored 12 points and dished out 11 assists on Feb. 19, 2011 at Ball State.
CAREER NIGHT AGAINST THE EAGLES
James Okonkwo and Tavari Johnson both posted career bests against Eastern Michigan on January 11. Okonkwo tied his career high in scoring with 17 points while making a career high nine free throws. Johnson dished out a career high 10 assists and became the first Zip to record a double-double in points and assists since 2004.
COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks 13th in the NCAA for bench production with 33.67 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded 11 games with 30 or more points and four games with 40 or more points. The Akron bench recorded a season high 47 points at Eastern Michigan on January 11.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips host Ohio at James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, January 17 for a 6 p.m. start on CBS Sports Network.
