Zips/Flashes Second Act at the JAR Friday Night on ESPN2

AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Zips host rival Kent State at James A. Rhodes Arena for the 167th all-time meeting between the two schools on Friday, February 28 for nationally televised contest on ESPN2. Akron and Kent State can be viewed on ESPN2 with Eric Rothman (PxP and Theo Pinson (Analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst) on the call. Live stats are also available on GoZips.com/coverage.

Akron (22-6, 14-1 Mid-American) at Kent State (19-9, 9-6 Mid-American)
Friday, February 28 - 9 p.m. ET - James A. Rhodes Arena - Akron, Ohio
Tv: ESPN2 - Radio: WHLO 640 AM

HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 344-219 | At Akron: 162-87
Kent State: Rob Senderoff | Overall Record: 283-173 | At Kent State: Same

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 84-82 | Groce vs. Kent State: 11-7 (15-12) Overall
First Met: 1915-16 W, Akron 37, Kent 16 At Kent
Last Met: March. 16, 2024 W, Akron 85, Kent 71
At Akron:46-25 | Neutral: 10-3 | At Kent: 28-55
Current Streak: 4W

INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday's game marks the 167th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State. Akron leads 85-82. The first meeting was during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win,37-16.

The Zips have won 23 of the last 38 meetings, including the last four meetings. The Zips are 1-0 against the Flashes in 2024-25 after winning at the M.A.C. Center 85-71 on January 31.

Akron swept 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.

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).

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. Neither team has done historically well on the road. Akron is 46-25 at home while just 28-55 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.

In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship five times with 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 FLASHES
Kent State comes to the JAR on Friday with a 19-9 overall record, a 9-6 record in the MAC and a 7-4 record on the road.

The Golden Flashes are coming off a one sided contest where they rolled over Toledo, 105-65, at the M.A.C Center on February 25. It was the first time Kent State scored 100 points or more in a conference game since Feb. 19, 2002, when they defeated Marshall University 116-76 in the M.A.C. Center. Five Flashes scored double-digits including VonCameron Davis (21) Jamal Sumlin (20), Marquis Barnett (19), Delrecco Gillespie (16), and Cli'Ron Hornbeak (13).

Davis leads the Flashes in points (15.5) and steals (1.3) per game. Cian Medley serves as the leader in assists (4.0) while Gillespie leads the way in rebounds per game (7.8). Hornbeak leads the Flashes in total blocks (40).

Kent State averages 74.0 points per game and has outscored their opponents this season by 6.3 points per game. The Flashes are shooting .439 from the field and .313 from beyond the arc with 7.3 3-point shots falling per game. KentState is also shooting .762 from the free-throw line. The Cardinals average 36.2 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 11.6 turnovers, 7.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.

The Flashes rank in the top five in the MAC in Scoring defense (1st - 67.7), scoring margin (3rd - +6.3), opp. fg pct. (1st - .418), opp 3pt pct. (3rd - .318), ft pct. (.762), rebounds (4th - 36.2), off. rebounds (12.5), rebound margin (+4.6), opp. rebounds (31.6), turnover margin (3rd - +1.68), blocked shots (5th - 3.43) and steals (2nd - 7.68).

The Flashes rank 45th in bench points (26.43), 70th in fg def. pct. (.418), 41st in ft pct. (.762), 51st in rebound margin (+4.6), 52nd in off. rebounds (12.50), 63rd in scoring def. (67.7), 95th in scoring margin (6.3), 89th steals (7.7), 81st in 3pt pct def. (.318), 85th turnover margin (1.7) and 79th in turnovers forced (13.32). Cli'ron Hornbeak ranks 89th in blocks (40) and Jalen Sullinger is is 51st in free throw percentage (87.1).

ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips host rival Kent State at the JAR on Friday for the 167th all-time meeting. Akron holds a 22-6 overall record, a 14-1 record in the MAC and a 14-0 record on the road.

Akron is coming off an 87-82 win at Ball State on February 25. Tavari Johnson led the way with 21 points while Shammah Scott added 18 points while Amani Lyles dropped 11 points.

Nate Johnson leads the Zips in scoring (13.5) and steals (1.9). Nate is one of two Zips to average 10 or more points per game with Tavari Johnson (12.9) joining him. T. Johnson leads Akron in assists (4.1) while James Okonkwo leads the Zips in rebounds (7.5). Amani Lyles leads the Zips in for blocks (31).

Akron is currently scoring 83.7 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 9.6 points per game. The Zips are shooting .468 from the field while shooting .357 from beyond the arc and averages 10.9 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .747 ft percentage while averaging 39.4 rebounds, 18.4 assists,12.4 turnovers, 7.5 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 - 74.1), scoring margin (1st - +9.6), fg pct. (3rd - .468), opp. fg pct (2nd - .422), 3pt pct (2nd - .357), opp. 3pt pct (1st- .313), 3pters made (1st - 10.9), ft pct (4th - .747), rebounds (1st - 39.4), off. rebounds (3rd - 11.7), def. rebounds (1st - 27.7), rebound margin (2nd - +4.3), assist-turnover margin (1st - +1.48), blocked shots (1st - 3.71), assists (1st - 18.36) and steals (2nd - 7.50).

The Zips rank 32nd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.48), 3rd in assists per game (18.4), 7th in bench points (33.89), 45th in effective fg pct. (.552), 21st in fastbreak points (14.21), 71st in fg pct. (.468), 92nd in fg def. pct. (.422), 89th in ft pct. (.747), 53rd in rebound margin (+4.5), 19th in def. rebounds (27.75), 79th in off. rebounds (11.89), 20th in rebounds per game (39.64), 37th in scoring margin (+9.6), 8th in scoring off. (83.7), 5th in 3pt attempts (30.4), 82nd in 3pt pct (.357), 58th in 3pt pct def. (.313) and 6th in 3pters made per game (10.9). James Okonkwo ranks 98th in total rebounds (211) and 93rd in off. rebounds per game (2.68). Nate Johnson ranks 51st in total steals (53) and 59th in steals per game (1.89).

LAST TIME AGAINST KENT STATE (1/31/25)
KENT, Ohio - The Akron men's basketball team saw all five starters score in double figures and knocked off the Kent State Golden Flashes 85-71 on the road Friday. The Zips have started conference action with nine straight wins for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

In total, six Zips scored in double-figures and marked the 12th game this season that four or more Zips scored in double figures.

The Zips (16-5, 9-0) were led by Nate Johnson, who had 20 points and two steals. Tavari Johnson added 15 points and five assists and James Okonkwo chipped in with a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. This was Okonkwo's fourth double-double of season.

The Akron offense was impressive from beyond the arc, pouring in 11 threes on 27 attempts. Seth Wilson hit three treys for the Zips in the contest. Akron has scored 10 or more 3's 14 times this season.

The Akron defense held Kent State shooters to just 34.9 percent from the field, including 24 percent from three-point range. The Zips also kept VonCameron Davis to 2-of-12 shooting and six points in the game. The Golden Flashes did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only eight offensive rebounds and scored 11 second chance points while Akron pulled down 30 defensive rebounds.

After jumping out to a 12-7 advantage, Akron went on a 10-0 run with 13:41 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Nate Johnson, to increase its lead to 22-7. The Zips then added two points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 48-31 advantage. Akron got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 18 of its 48 total points.

Akron kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Isaiah Gray's layup, to grow the lead to 67-48 with 11:05 to go in the contest. The Golden Flashes narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still cruised the rest of the way for the 85-71 win. Akron shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting five shots from deep to score 15 of its 37 points.

AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 79-26 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.752) in the league. The Zips are 65-23 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 107-28 (.793) 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 248-109 overall (.695), including a 149-32 mark in MAC play at home (.823). The Zips' 248 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 163 of their last 228 MAC games (.715).

CAREER NIGHT AGAINST THE BOBCATS
Shammah Scott dished out a career high seven assists at Ohio (Feb. 22). His previous high for assists in a game was six, which he recorded this season against Ball State (Feb. 4).

COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks 7th in the NCAA for bench production with 33.89 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded 20 games with 30 or more points and nine 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 (3rd - 18.4), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in 13 games with a season high 28 coming against Ohio Wesleyan (11/8/24).

WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron travels to Savage Arena to battle the Toledo Rockets on Tuesday, March 4 for a 7 p.m. start.

Zips/Flashes Second Act at the JAR Friday Night on ESPN2

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Players Mentioned

Isaiah Gray

Nate Johnson

Tavari Johnson

Amani Lyles

James Okonkwo

Shammah Scott

Seth Wilson

The University of Akron Athletics