The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
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Western Michigan
Zips Host Western Michigan on Tuesday for #MACtion
February 10 | Men's Basketball
Akron (18-5, 10-0Â Mid-American) vs Western Michigan (7-16, 4-6Â Mid-American)
Tuesday, Feb. 11 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 340-218 | At Akron: 158-86
Western Michigan:Â Dwayne Stephens | Overall Record: 27-59 | At Western Michigan: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 39-22 |Groce vs. Western Michigan: 9-3 (12-5 Overall)
First Met:Â Mar. 5, 1988 (W, Akron 79, Western Michigan 74) At Kalamazoo
Last Met: Mar. 8, 2024 (L, Western Michigan 90, Akron 84) At Kalamazoo
At Akron: 21-7 | Neutral: 5-2 | At Kalamazoo: 13-13
Current Streak: L1
INSIDE THE SERIES
Akron and Western Michigan will battle for the 62nd time on Tuesday. The Zips lead the series 39-22 and hold a 7-2 advantage in postseason action. Head coach John Groce is 12-5 all-time against the Broncos and 9-3 at Akron. Akron has won 15 of the last 18 meetings and 27 of the last 33 games of the series. The Zips are 20-7 all-time at home against the Broncos.
The Zips won the first meeting of the 2023-24 season 77-66 at the JAR on January 16 before falling 90-86 in the second meeting on the road.
Akron swept the series in 2022-23 with a 63-55 win on the road and an 81-64 victory at the JAR.
Akron is 7-2 in the MAC Tournament against WMU and 5-2 on a neutral court. In addition, the Zips are 13-13 in Kalamazoo, winning six of the last 11 meetings at University Arena. In 2002, Akron opened the MAC Tournament in Kalamazoo and advanced to Cleveland after a 90-83 win as the 11th seed. The Zips are 2-0 in the MAC Tournament at University Arena and 6-6 all-time in opening-round games.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
The Broncos come into Tuesday's game with a 7-16 overall record, a 4-6 record in the MAC and a 3-9 record on the road.
Western Michigan is coming off an 83-57 loss to Georgia Southern on February 8. JaVaughn Hannah and Chansey Willis Jr. tallied 13 points apiece to lead the way for the Broncos. Max Burton paced the Brown and the Gold on the glass with six rebounds. Willis contributed five boards, and also handed out a team-high six assists.
Willis Jr. leads the Broncos in points (15.2), assists (5.5) and steals (1.5). Owen Lobsinger is the leader in rebounds (7.2) while Burton leads the way in blocks (16.)Â
Western Michigan averages 70.4 points per game and has been outscored their opponents this season by 5.7 points per game. The Broncos are shooting .419 from the field and .265 from beyond the arc with 5.1 3-point shots falling per game. WMU is also shooting .675 from the free-throw line. The Broncos averages 37.7 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 11.0 turnovers, 6.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.Â
The Broncos rank in the top five in the MAC in rebounding (2nd - 37.7), off. rebounds (1st - 13.1), and rebound margin (4th - +2.9).
Western Michigan ranks 88th in fastbreak points (11.96), 33rd in off. rebounds (13.13), 75th in rebounds per game (37.70) and 83rd in turnovers for fewest turnovers per game (11.0).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips return to Mid-American Conference action when they host the Western Michigan on January 11. Akron hold a 18-5 overall record, a 10-0 record in the MAC and a 12-0 record at home.
The Zips are coming off an 80-67 victory over South Alabama on February 8. Nate Johnson recorded a career best 10 assists while Tavari Johnson drilled a career high six 3-pointers in the win. The Zips were prolific from beyond the arc, hitting a season-high 19 3's against the Jaguars. The previous high of 18 came against Nebraska-Omaha (Nov. 23) and Central Michigan (Jan. 7).
N. Johnson leads the Zips in scoring (13.5) and steals (1.9). Nate is one of three Zips to average 10 or more points per game with T. Johnson (12.7) and Isaiah Gray (10.1) rounding out the list. T. Johnson leads Akron in assists (4.3) while James Okonkwo leads the Zips in rebounds (7.8). Okonkwo and Amani Lyles share the lead for blocks this season (24).
Akron is currently scoring 83.7 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 11.1 points per game this season. The Zips are shooting .461 from the field while shooting .363 from beyond the arc and averages 11.6 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .749 ft percentage while averaging 40.1 rebounds, 18.7 assists,12.4 turnovers, 7.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.
Akron is in the top five in the MAC for scoring offense (1st - 83.7), scoring defense (4th - 72.7), scoring margin (1st - +11.1), opp. fg pct (2nd - .421), 3pt pct (3rd - .363), opp. 3pt pct (2nd - .311), 3pters made (1st - 11.6), ft pct (4th - .749), rebounds (1st - 40.1), off. rebounds (3rd - 12.3), def. rebounds (1st - 27.8), rebound margin (1st - +4.8), assist-turnover margin (1st - +1.51), blocked shots (1st - 3.74), assists (1st - 18.74) and steals (t2nd - 7.87).
The Zips are ranked 31st in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.51), 4th in assists per game (18.7), 9th in bench points (33.22), 47th in effective fg pct (.549), 19th in fastbreak points (14.65), 93rd in fg defense (.421), 76th in ft pct. (.749), 45th in rebound margin (+5.0), 22nd in def. rebounds (27.87), 52nd in off. rebounds (12.57), 16th in rebounds per game (40.43), 31st in scoring margin (11.1), 12th in scoring offense (83.7), 78th in steals per game (7.9), 3rd in 3-point attempts (32.0), 73rd in 3-point pct (.363), 62nd in 3-point def. (.311) and 3rd in 3-pointers made per game (11.6). James Okonkwo ranks 97th in total rebounds (181), 77th in off. rebounds ( 2.83) and 82nd in rebounds per game (7.9). Nate Johnson ranks 65th in steals (44) and 60th in steals per game (1.91).
WINNING... IT'S WHATÂ WE DO
Akron is currently on an 11-game winning streak, which is currently the longest active streak in the country. Four teams are currently tied with 10 straight wins (Drake, St. John's, Southern, Towson). Green Bay holds the nation's longest losing streak with 20 straight defeats.
UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE
Akron is one of three teams in Div. I to hold a perfect record in conference play. Along with the Zips, Yale and Southern have yet to lose in conference action. Eight teams have yet to win a conference game this season.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 75-25 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.750) in the league. The Zips are 61-22 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 105-28 (.789) 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 244-108 overall (.693), including a 147-32 mark in MAC play at home (.821). The Zips' 244 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 159 of their last 223 MAC games (.713).
PERFECT AT HOME
Out of the 364 Div. I basketball teams, just 18 remain perfect at home. One of those teams is the Akron Zips, who have a 12-0 record at their home crib. Akron is the only team in the MAC to have a perfect home record. There are two other teams the Zips have played are perfect at home, Arkansas State and Yale. New Orleans (Southland) is the only school yet to win at home this season. On the flip side, just Houston remains perfect on the road.
CAREER DAY AGAINST THE JAGUARS
Both Nate and Tavari Johnson set career-highs against South Alabama on February 8. Nate set a new career best in assists with 10 while Tavari hit on a career best six 3-pointers in the 80-67 victory.
COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks 9th in the NCAA for bench production with 33.22 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded 16 games with 30 or more points and seven games with 40 or more points. The Akron bench recorded a season high 49 points against Ball State om February 4.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top-10 in assists per game in the NCAA (4th - 18.7), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in 11 games with a season high 28 coming against Ohio Wesleyan (11/8/24).Â
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron travels to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to battle Central Michigan on Saturday, February 15 for a 7 p.m. start.
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