Akron Back at The JAR against Tulane - University of Akron Athletics

Saturday, November 14

Akron, Ohio

Noon

University of Akron

Tulane

November 14 | Men's Basketball

2026-27 Akron Men's Basketball

Akron

ZIPS

[2-0, 0-0 MAC]

vs.

TULANE

GREEN WAVE

[2-1, 0-0 AMERICAN]

Date

NOV. 14, 2026

TIPoff

NOON

Location

AKRON, OHIO

ESPN+

Watch Listen Live Stats Game Notes

WHAT"S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's basketball team looks to increase its home winning streak to 33 games as the Zips play host to the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, Nov. 14 at noon. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (pxp) and Jeff Phelps (analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to the action on the 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.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game marks the third meeting in series history between Akron and Tulane. Akron holds a 2-0 lead, claiming the first meeting 62-61 at the DC Holiday Hoop fest in the 2019-20 season on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. The Zips won the second meeting last season (2025-26) in New Orleans, La. as the Zips claimed a 88-71 win on Dec. 2, 2025. Akron is 1-0 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games.

Zips Need to Know

1. THE FORD ERA BEGINS
The Zips opened the season with a 75-61 win over Louisiana under new head coach Dustin Ford and staff: associate head coach Jay Shunnar, assistant coaches Devan Morrow, Joshua Jones, Todd May and Jordan Amati, strength coach Presley Gauch, graduate assistant coaches Nikola Cvetinovic and Blake Benko, director of personal development Jami Bosley.

2. THE WINNING TRADITION
Akron is coming off a 2025-26 season that saw the Blue and Gold claim the Mid-American Conference Tournament title for the third straight season, the first time in MAC history. The Zips concluded the 2025-26 season in the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 5 Texas Tech 91-71 in Tampa, Fla.

3. RETURNING PLAYERS
Akron returns a strong core of experienced players for the 2026-27 season, led by fifth-year standout Evan Mahaffey and redshirt senior Chabi Barre. Mahaffey returns after earning All-MAC Honorable Mention and All-MAC Defensive Team recognition in 2025-26, when he averaged 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while starting all 35 contests. Barre provides experience and interior presence after appearing in 18 games for the Zips last season. The Zips also welcome back redshirt junior Marvin Musiime-Kamali and redshirt junior Zach Halligan. Musiime-Kamali appeared in all 35 games in 2025-26, averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game, while Halligan played in 34 contests, including 23 starts, and averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Redshirt junior guard Cody Head returns after sitting out the 2025-26 season. Head previously played at Lipscomb and Arkansas State, earning ASUN All-Freshman Team honors at Lipscomb in 2023-24 after averaging 8.1 points per game and shooting 53.2 percent from the field. Redshirt freshmen Tai Perkins and Josh Henderson also return after redshirting last season.

4. TRANSFERS + FRESHMEN
Akron adds an experienced group of transfers for 2026-27, highlighted by graduate guard Kamrin Oriol and redshirt senior guard Tahj Staveskie. Oriol arrives from North Florida after averaging 20.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 2025-26. He shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range and 88.7 percent from the free-throw line. Staveskie joins the Zips from Incarnate Word, where he averaged 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while earning 30 starts in 31 appearances. Senior guard Ty Pence comes to Akron from Illinois State, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season and earned Purple CBI All-Tournament Team honors in 2024-25. Redshirt senior forward Max Burton transfers from Western Michigan after averaging 5.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2025-26. The Zips also add senior forward Buddy Hammer Jr., who brings Division I and junior college experience after stops at North Texas, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Connors State. At Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, he averaged 12.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and earned NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention recognition. Junior forward Colin White joins Akron from Ohio State. A standout at Ottawa-Glandorf High School, White was named Ohio Mr. Basketball in 2024 and finished his prep career with more than 2,000 points. Redshirt freshman guard Exavier Wilson joins the Zips after beginning his collegiate career at Kansas State. He was a standout at Father Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia, Missouri, before arriving in Akron. The Zips also add a pair of first-year freshmen. RJ Jones is a guard from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio and Devan Christion a forward from Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas, Nev.

5. PROTECT THE JAR!
Akron is 1-0 at The JAR in 2026-27. The Zips are currently riding a program best 32 game winning streak. Akron posted back-to-back unbeaten seasons at home (2024-25, 2025-26) with it only five times in Akron history. The previous five teams to go undefeated at the JAR were the 1986-87 (18-0), 2005-06 (13-0), 2015-16 (15-0), 2024-25 (16-0) and 2025-26 (15-0) squads. Akron is just one of two teams to go perfect at home the past two seasons.... the other is Duke.

How To Follow

Television / Stream	ESPN+
Radio	Akron Sports Network
Live Stats	Live Stats
Game Notes	Akron
Instagram	@ZipsMBB
X	@ZipsMBB

Matchup Comparison

Category	AKRON	TULANE
Scoring Average	93.5	87.3
Scoring Margin	+31.0	+4.7
FG Percentage	.520	.462
3PT Percentage	.359	.411
3PT FG Made Per Game	11.5	7.7
FT Percentage	.723	.728
Rebounds Per Game	46.5	38.0
Assists Per Game	20.0	11.7
Turnovers Per Game	13.0	12.7
Steals Per Game	9.0	8.3
Blocks Per Game	2.0	2.3

Statistics are per game unless otherwise noted.

By The Numbers

Akron Winning Streak at James A. Rhodes Arena

Streaks, Storylines & Sidebars

Dustin Ford was named the 23rd head coach in Akron men's basketball history on March 30, 2026.
Coach Ford enters his 10th season on the Akron sideline, first as head coach.
The Zips have posted a 166-60 overall record since the 2019-20 season and a 100-28 conference record in that same span.
Akron is 121-15 (.890) at home and currently riding a 31 game home winning streak.
Duke and Akron were the only two Division I men's teams to complete the back-to-back home undefeated streaks in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Akron recorded its 800th win at the Div. I level against Concord on Dec. 29, 2025.
Since 2009, Akron has claimed six MAC Regular Season titles and seven MAC Tournament titles.
Akron has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances and set a MAC record with three-straight MAC Tournament championships(2024, 2025 and 2026).
Akron earned its sixth NCAA appearance with its fifth MAC Championship on March 16, 2025.
Akron has made at least one 3-pointer in its last 840 games since playing Purdue in the 2000-01 season.
Enrique Freeman became the first Akron player to be selected in the modern two-round NBA Draft era as the Indiana Pacers selected him with the 50th overall pick (2nd round) on June 27, 2024.