The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Evansville
Zips Battle Evansville In Second Game of the Paradise Jam
November 22 | Men's Basketball
Akron (4-1, 0-0 Mid-American) vs Evansville (3-3, 0-0 Missouri Valley)
Sunday, Nov.23 – UVI Arena – St. Thomas, USVI
8 pm ET –  WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 354-221 | At Akron: 172-89
Evansville:Â David Ragland | Overall Record: 36-69 | At Evansville: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Trails 1-4 |Â Â Groce vs Evansville: 1-0
First Met:Mar. 7 1958 (Akron 70, Evansville 82) In Evansville, Ind. (NCAA D2 Tournament)
Last Met: Nov. 24, 2021Â (Akron 69, Evansville 60) In Estro, Fla.
Current Streak: W1
LASTÂ TIME OUT (VS IONA 11/21/25)
ST. THOMAS, USVI - Five Zips scored in double figures as the Akron Zips defeated the Iona Gaels 96-75 at Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports and Fitness Center Friday to begin the Paradise Jam.
The Zips (4-1) had five players score in double figures, led by Eric Mahaffey, who had 20 points and eight rebounds. Tavari Johnson added 19 points, Evan Mahaffey chipped in with 16 points and five rebounds. Shammah Scott added 14 points and five assists while Bowen Hardman fired in 10 points.
Akron shared the ball well in Friday's game, racking up 20 assists on 35 made field goals. Individually, Sharron Young and Scott led the way for the Zips with five assists.
Akron forced 17 Iona turnovers while committing 11 themselves in Friday's game. The Zips turned those takeaways into 26 points on the other end of the floor. Young led the way individually with two steals.
After falling behind 3-2, Akron went on a 10-0 run with 17:51 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Johnson, to take a 12-3 lead. The Zips then added five points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 47-33 advantage. Akron capitalized on 11 Iona turnovers in the period, turning them into 15 points on the other end of the floor.
Following the intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 64-43 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Marvin Musiime-Kamali's layup, to grow the lead to 71-43 with 12:37 to go in the contest. The Gaels narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still cruised the rest of the way for the 96-75 win. Akron made the most of six offensive rebounds to tack on 10 second chance points out of 49 total in the period.
LAST TIME AGAINST EVANSVILLEÂ (11/24/2021)
Estero, Fla. – Akron sophomore Ali Ali (Kendallville, Ind.) scored 20 points to lead the Zips to a 69-60 win over Evansville on the final day of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena on Wednesday.
Ali shot 6-of-8 from the floor and buried all four of his 3-point field goal attempts before the first half expired. Xavier Castaneda followed in scoring with 11 points, while Enrique Freeman and Greg Tribble added 10 points apiece. Freeman notched his fourth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and averaged a double-double for the tournament, scoring 11.3 points and grabbing 10.3 rebounds per game.
Bryan Trimble, Jr. got things going for Akron, knocking down his first three shot attempts, all from downtown. The Zips opened the game with an 11-8 advantage by the 15:07 mark and despite not scoring still held the lead at the midway point of the first half, 11-10.
The hot hand continued for Akron as Ali nailed four straight shots, including three from long range. With 7:15 left to play in the first half, the Zips were 6-of-7 (.857) from Deep and 8-of-11 (.727) from the floor en route to a 28-20 advantage. Akron closed the half on a 5-0 run as Castaneda buried a corner 3-ball and Freeman added paint points. The Zips led 33-20 at the break. Akron shot 57.1 percent from the floor (12-of-21), including a sizzling 72.7 percent, 8-of-11 from downtown. Rebounds were tied 17-all.
Evansville outscored the Zips 12-2 to open the half, cutting the Zips lead to 37-32 with 13:14 showing on the clock. Akron scored on back-to-back possessions and eventually pushed the lead back to 10 points, 49-39, as Dawson hit a three at the top of the key with 8:15 left to play in the game. The Zips maintained the double-digit lead until the 3-minute mark, but held on for the win.
Evansville was led by Jawaun Newton's double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Antoine Smith, Jr. and Shamar Givance added 16 and 12 points in the loss, respectively.
Akron finished the game shooting 48.8 percent from the floor (21-of-43) and 66.7 percent from long distance (10-of-15) while edging the Aces on the glass 32-31.
REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS
Akron is 74-49 all-time and 53-42 in the Division I era (since 1980) in regular season tournaments and 13-14 under Groce. Akron is 1-0 in the Paradise Jam after defeating Iona 96-75.
In 2024, the Zips went 1-1 at the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational in El Paso, Texas after falling to Yale in the opening game 74-58 before rebounding with a 68-50 victory over Jackson State. Shammah Scott was named to the All-Tournament Team. Akron concluded the Akron Basketball Classic with a 3-0 record with wins over Lamar (79-72), Nebraska Omaha (92-84) and Alabama State (97-78). Nate Johnson was named the tournament MVP while Isaiah Gray and Amani Lyles were named to the all-tournament team.
2023-24 saw Akron go 1-2 at the Cayman Islands Classic, posting a win over FIU before falling to Utah State and Drake. Akron posted a 1-2 record at the 2022 Cayman Islands Classic, defeating Western Kentucky and advancing to the semifinals before falling to LSU and finishing fourth overall after falling to Nevada.
The Zips registered a 1-2 record in the 2021 Gulf Coast Showcase, a 3-1 record in the Global Sports Shootout, and a 1-1 mark in the DC Holiday Hoops Fest, In 2018-19, the Zips went 2-2 at the Cayman Island Classic, and in Groce's first season, Akron posted an 0-3 mark at the 2018 Diamond Head Classic.Â
Akron has posted multiple wins in 16 of the last 20 in-season tournaments, including four championships. The Zips won two tournaments in 2016-17, the Savannah Invitational (4-0) and the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (2-0). In 2015-16, Akron went 2-0 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic to claim the title. Akron won the Akron Baskeball Classic in 2024-25 with a 3-0 record.
In 2014-15, Akron posted a 2-1 record in the Gildan Charleston Classic following the previous tournament runs at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (2012, 2-1), 2K Sports Classic (2011, 2-2), the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic (2010, 3-1), the Glenn Wilkes Classic (2009, 2-2), the Legends Classic (2008, 2-2), the Top of the World Classic (2007, 2-1) and the San Juan Shootout (2005, 2-1).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips continue action in the Paradise Jam with a battle against the Evansville Purple Aces on Sunday, November 23.
Akron and Evansville are set to meet for the sixth time in the all-time series.
The Zips recently took down Iona, 96-75, to begin the Paradise Jam on November 21.
The Zips (4-1) had five players score in double figures, led by Eric Mahaffey, who had 20 points and eight rebounds. Tavari Johnson added 19 points, Evan Mahaffey chipped in with 16 points and five rebounds. Shammah Scott added 14 points and five assists while Bowen Hardman fired in 10 points.
Akron shared the ball well in Friday's game, racking up 20 assists on 35 made field goals. Individually, Sharron Young and Scott led the way for the Zips with five assists.
After Evansville, Akron will face either Yale or Charleston in the final day of the Paradise Jam on Monday, November 24.
Akron is scoring 94.6 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 22.20 points per game. The Zips shoot .478 from the field while shooting .352 from beyond the arc and averaged 11.6 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .740 ft percentage while averaging 43.6 rebounds, 21.6 assists, 9.4 turnovers, 9.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.
Akron ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (1st - 94.6), scoring defense (5th - 72.6), scoring margin (2nd - 22.0), fg pct (4th - .478), opp fg pct (2nd - .394), 3pters made per game (2nd - 11.6), ft pct (5th - .740), rebounds per game (1st - 43.6), off rebounds (1st - 14.4), def rebounds (2nd - 29.2), rebound margin (3rd - +6.8), turnover margin (2nd - +7.40), assist-turnover margin (1st - +2.30), blocked shots (4th - 3.60), assists (1st - 21.6) and steals (2nd - 9.0)
Akron ranks 4th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.30), 7th in assists per game (21.6), 87th in bench points per game (31.0), 83rd in effective fg pct (.558), 54th in fastbreak points (17.4), 80th in fg pct defense (.394), 36th for fewest fouls per game (15.2),54th in def rebounds (29.20), 49th in off rebounds (14.4), 35th in rebounds per game (43.6), 35th in scoring margin (+22.0), 15th in scoring offense (94.6), 70th in steals per game (9.0), 16th in 3pters attempted per game (33.0), 20th in made 3pters per game (11.6), 11th in turnover margin (+7.4), 31st in forced turnovers per game (16.8) and 26th in fewest turnovers per game (9.4).
Individually, Shammah Scott ranks 3rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+11.5). Tavari Johnson ranks 88th in assist-turnover ratio (+3.33).Â
SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES
The Evansville Purple Aces enter Sunday with a 3-3 overall record after defeating Oregon State 73-69 in the opening round of the Paradise Jam on November 21.
Four players scored in double figures on Friday. In the first meeting between the teams since the 1989 NCAA Tournament, it was Josh Hughes leading the way with the third double-double of his career and second of the season. He scored a season-high 16 points while grabbing a career-best 12 boards. Bryce Quinet tallied a career-best 15 points while adding four caroms, three assists, and two steals. He was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Joshua Hughes leads the way in points (13.2) and rebounds (7.0) per game. Leif Moeller is the leader in assists (5.2), Bryce Quinet leads the Purple Aces in steals (1.5), while Connor Turnbills has a team-high nine blocks.
As a team, Evansville scored 73.3 points per game and outscored its opponents by 5.2 points. The Purple Aces are shooting .434 from the field and .305 from beyond the arc with 7.2 3pters falling per game. Evansville shoots .715 from the free-throw line while averaging 35.7 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 11.5 turnovers, 6.8 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.
As a team, the Gales average 87.8 points per game and outscore their opponents by 11.8 points. Iona shoots .506 from the field and .402 from beyond the arc, with 10.3 3-pointers falling per game. Iona shoots .674 from the free throw line while averaging 35.3 rebounds per game, 17.0 assists, 13.0 turnovers, 8.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.
Evansville ranks in the top five in the MVC in scoring defense (4th - 68.2), ft pct (5th - .715), opp rebounds (2nd - 34.0), off rebounds (2nd - 12.2) and assist-turnover ratio (5th - +1.32).
The Purple Aces rank 93rd in the NCAA in scoring defense (68.2). Individually, Leif Moeleer ranks 36th in total assists (31), 82nd in assists per game (5.2). Connor Turnbill ranks 73rd in blocks (9) and 75th in blocks per game (1.8). Joshua Hughes ranks 54th in offensive rebounds per game (3.5).
FOUR OR MORE
The Zips have had four or more players score in double-figure scoring in four game this season. The most recent game with four or more Zips scoring in double figures happened on Nov. 21 when five Zips score 10 or more points against Iona.
Akron had four or more players record double-figure scoring in 21 games in the 2024-25 season. The season high was seven players scoring 10 or more points against SUNY Brockport (Dec. 7) and Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11).Â
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
The Zips are 4-0 this season when scoring 85 or more points.Â
Akron scored 85 or more points in 19 games in 2024-25 and were 19-0 when hitting that mark.Â
Under John Groce, Akron is 55-3 (.948) all-time when scoring 85 or more points.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top-10 in assists per game in the NCAA (7th - 21.6), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in 3 games with a season high 32 coming against PSU Shenango (Nov. 12). The most recent game with 20+ assists was against Iona (20) on Nov. 21.
A WISE MAN SAID "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"
The Zips have seen scoring come from multiple avenues with seven players averaging eight or more points per game while five Zips average 10 or more points. The Blue and Gold have also seen 4 different Zips lead the squad in scoring this season.
A HALF DOESN'T MAKE A GAME, BUT...
The Zips are 3-0 when leading at the half compared to a 1-1 record when trailing at the half
THE SMALL THINGS ADD UP
The Zips are 4-0 when shooting better than their opponent from the field, 4-0 when shooting 50% or above from the field, 2-0 when shooting 40% or better from 3-point range, 4-0 when out rebounding their opponents, 4-0 when attempting more FT, 4-0 when holding opponents below 80 points and 4-0 when scoring 85 points or more.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips will either battle Yale or Charleston on the final day of the Paradise Jam on Monday, November 24, at either 5:30 or 8 pm ET.
