The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Zips Battle Rival Kent State on the Road on CBSSN on Friday
January 30 | Men's Basketball
Akron (15-5, 7-0Â Mid-American) at Kent State (13-7, 4-4 Mid-American)
Friday, Jan. 31 – M.A.C. Center – Kent, Ohio
7 pm ET – CBS Sports Network - WHLO 640
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 337-218 | At Akron: 155-86
Kent State: Rob Senderoff | Overall Record: 277-171 | At Kent State: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 83-82 | Groce vs. Kent State: 10-7 (14-12) Overall
First Met: 1915-16 (W, Akron 37, Kent 16) At Kent
Last Met: March. 16, 2024 (W, Akron 62, Kent 61) In Cleveland
At Akron:46-25 | Neutral: 10-3 | At Kent: 27-55
Current Streak: 3W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game marks the 166th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State. Akron leads 84-82. The first meeting was during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win, 37-16.Â
The Zips have won 22 of the last 37 meetings with Akron sweeping the regular season with a 77-71 win at Kent State (Jan. 19) and an 83-70 victory at Rhodes Arena (Feb. 23) in 2023-24 while taking down Kent State in the MAC Championship title game 62-61 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Akron went 1-2 against the Golden Flashes in 2022-23 with each side defending its home court, while Kent State won in the MAC Tournament to take a 82-80 advantage in the overall series. In 2020-21, Akron swept the season series, claiming the New Year's Day game at The JAR (66-62) and followed with a win at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio on Feb. 5 (72-61). The season sweep marked the first time either team swept the series since the 2011-12 season when Akron posted three wins.Â
In 2019-20, the two teams split the series as Akron posted a 79-76 victory at James A. Rhodes Arena (March 6) and KSU claimed the earlier contest 68-67 (Jan. 31) at the M.A.C Center. In 2018-19, Akron and Kent State split the series -- Zips won at home 72-53 (Feb. 8) and Kent State won 68-65 in Kent (March 8). The team from the east entered 2018-19 season winning 2-of-3 contests, including a split in the 2017-18 season series (W 78-68 in Kent), (L 67-65 in Akron) and the 2017 MAC Championship game (W 70-65 in Cleveland). Akron earned a season series sweep, during the 2011-12 season. In fact, the Zips posted three consecutive wins that season, defeating the Flashes 84-75 at home (Jan. 21), 61-55 in Kent (March 2) and 78-74 in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland (March 9).Â
In addition, Akron won 2-of-3 games the following season (2012-13), winning on the road (71-67, Jan. 15) and falling at home (68-64, March 8) before winning its second consecutive semifinal matchup in the MAC Tournament (62-59, March 15). During that stretch, Akron won 5-of-6 games.Â
Neither team has done historically well on the road. Akron is 46-25 at home while just 27-55 on the road against the Golden Flashes. Akron and Kent State have met in the MAC Tournament 10 times. Akron is 7-3 in the MAC Tournament against the Golden Flashes.Â
In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship five times with the the series in favor of the Zips 3-2 in MAC title games. Kent State won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron won the title in 2010-11 in overtime (66-65), Kent State won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65) and the Zips won in 2022 (75-55) and 2024 (62-61).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHESThe Golden Flashes come into Friday's contest with a 13-7 overall record, a 4-4 record in the MAC and a 6-3 record at the MA.C. Center
Kent State recently defeated Bowling Green at home, 75-57 on January 28. The Golden Flashes have played the past two games on national tv with a game on ESPNU (Ohio, Jan. 24) and CBSSN (Bowling Green, Jan. 28).Â
Four different Golden Flashes tallied double-digits in the win over the Falcons. Cian Medley tallied his first career double-double (12 pts, 10 reb), and VonCameron Davis led the Flashes in scoring with 24 points on a 10-of-16 shooting night. The Golden Flashes shot .519 from the field against BGSU while shooting .667 percent in the first half (16-of-24).
Kent State is led by Davis in scoring (15.9) while Cam Medley is the leader in assists (4.3). Cli'Ron Hornbeak leads the way in rebounds (6.4) and blocked shots (22) while Quetin Jones leads the Flashes in steals (1.4).
The Flashes average 70.0 points per game and have outscored by their opponents this season by 5.8 points per game. KSU is shooting .417 from the field and .289 from beyond the arc with 7.1 3-point shots falling per game. The Huskies are also shooting .730 from the free throw line. Kent averages 36.3 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 11.4 turnovers, 7.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.Â
Kent State ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring defense (64.2), scoring margin (3rd - +5.8), opp. fg (1st - .409), opp. 3pt pct. (1st - .304), ft pct (5th - .730), rebounds (4th - 36.3), opp. rebounds (2nd - 32.4), off. rebounds (13.2), reb margin (4th - 4.0), turnover margin (2nd - +2.75) and steals (5th - 7.75).
The Golden Flashes rank 73rd in the NCAA in bench points (25.45), 55th in fg defense (.409), 84th in rebound margin (+4.0), 38th in off. rebounds (13.15), 20th in scoring defense (64.2), 50th in 3pt pct. defense (.304), 49th in turnover margin (+2.8) and 54th in turnover forced (14.15).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips travel to face rival Kent State on Friday for #MACtion on CBS Sports Network. Akron is 15-5 overall, 8-0 in the MAC and 4-3 on the road.
Akron is coming off an 80-70 victory at NIU on Tuesday that saw Tavari Jonson (21 pts) and Nate Johnson (19 pts) combine for 40 points while Isaiah Gray records a 12 pt, 11 reb double-double. Shammah Scott also had a double-figure scoring performance with 11 points being added.
N. Johnson leads the Zips in scoring (13.4) and steals (2.0). Nate is one of three Zips to average 10 or more points per game with Tavari Johnson (12.6) and Gray (10.6) rounding out the list. T. Johnson leads Akron in assists (4.2) while James Okonkwo leads the Zips in rebounds (7.6). Amani Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in blocks with 21.
Akron is currently scoring 84.0 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 11.0 points per game this season. The Zips are shooting .456 from the field while shooting .362 from beyond the arc and averages 11.5 3's per game. The Blue and Gold holds a .758 ft percentage while averaging 40.8 rebounds, 18.4 assists,12.7 turnovers, 7.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.
Akron is in the top five in the MAC for scoring offense (1st - 84.0), scoring defense (3rd - 73.0), scoring margin (1st - +11.0), opp. fg pct (2nd - .418), 3pt pct (2nd - .362), opp. 3pt pct (3rd - .318), 3pters made (1st - 11.5), ft pct (1st - .758), rebounds (1st - 40.8), off. rebounds (3rd - 12.7), def. rebounds (1st - 28.1), rebound margin (1st - +4.7), assist-turnover margin (1st - +1.45), blocked shots (2nd - 3.70), assists (1st - 18.35) and steals (2nd - 7.90).
The Zips rank 45th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.45), 8th in assists per game (18.4), 10th in bench points (33.70), 68th in effective fg pc (.543), 22nd in fastbreak points (14.80), 94th in fg defense (.418), 50th in ft pct (.758), 61st in rebound margin (+4.9), 17th in def. rebounds (28.20), 46th in off. rebounds (12.95), 9th in rebounds per game (41.15), 43rd in scoring offense (84.0), 84th in steals per game (7.9), 3rd in 3-point attempts (31.8), 76th in 3pt pct. (.362), 3rd in 3's made per game (11.5) and 81st in turnover forced per game (13.65). James Okonkwo ranks 68th in off. rebounds (2.90) while Nate Johnson ranks 63rd in total steals (29) and 61st in steals per game (1.95).
UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE
Akron is one of 10 teams to hold a perfect record in conference play. Teams that the Zips have battled this season that are also undefeated in conference are Yale and Saint Mary's. 14 teams have yet to win a conference game so far this season in Div. I.
HOT START TO #MACTION
The Blue and Gold have started conference play with eight straight wins. The eight wins to begin conference action is the best start for an Akron led John Groce squad. The Blue and Gold started last season 7-0 in MAC play.
The last time the Zips started 8-0 was back in 2016-17 where the Zips ultimately started conference action with a 9-0 start. The 2012-13 squad started #MACtion to the tune of a 13-0 record. The Zips finish that season 26-7 overall and 14-2 in the MAC.
WINNING...IT'S WHAT WE DO
Akron is currently on an eight game winning streak to begin conference play. The Zip's winning streak is the 10th longest. Duke's 14 game winning streak leads the nation followed behind Michigan State and Houston's 13 wins. On the other side, Green Bay holds the nation's longest losing streak with 17 straight defeats.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 73-25 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.745) in the league. The Zips are 59-22 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 104-28 (.788) 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 242-108 overall (.691), including a 146-32 mark in MAC play at home (.820). The Zips' 242 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 157 of their last 221 MAC games (.710).
ON NATIONAL TV
Akron is 2-0 on the national stage with wins at Bowling Green (71-68) and against Ohio (92-80) at the JAR, both on CBS Sports Network.Â
The Zips currently have one more nationally televised games scheduled in the month of January. The first installment of the rivalry game between Akron and Kent State was selected to be aired on national TV as CBSSN will broadcast the game from the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.Â
The remaining dates will be announced 21 days prior to the contests which may affect three game dates for Akron, including a pair of home games against Kent State (3/1/24) and Buffalo (3/7/24) as well as a road game at Ohio (2/22/24).
COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks 10th in the NCAA for bench production with 33.70 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded 15 games with 30 or more points and six games with 40 or more points. The Akron bench recorded a season high 47 points at Eastern Michigan on January 11.Â
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes to host Ball State on Tuesday, February 4 for a 7 p.m. start
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