The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Hoops Plays Host To CMU In Saturday Matinee
January 30 | Men's Basketball
Central Michigan (6-12, 3-3 MAC) at Akron (12-8, 3-3 MAC)
Saturday, January 31
Noon EST
Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio
Television: FSN Ohio – Jeff Phelps (play-by-play) and
Steve Mix (analyst).
Webcast/Audio Stream/Live Statistics: Webcast and
audio stream through ZipsZone
subscription, live statistics free of charge.
Radio: Akron-ISP Sports Network – SportsRadio
1350 AM (WARF) in Akron and through the
ZipsZone
subscription package. Steve French (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn
(analyst) (11:30 a.m. EST airtime).
Akron Coach Keith Dambrot (Akron '82):
Is in his fifth season at the helm for the Zips, maintaining a
104-46 (.693) mark in that time. His win percentage ranks fourth in
program history, while his win total is fifth all-time. He is
212-116 (.646) in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach.
Dambrot is 5-1 all-time versus Central Michigan.
Central Michigan Coach Ernie Zeigler (Cleary College
'94):
Is in his third season on the sideline for the Chippewas and as a
collegiate head coach, owning a 33-47 (.413) mark in that time.
Zeigler is 1-3 all-time versus Akron.
The Series: Saturday serves as the 37th meeting
between the two schools on the hardwood, with Akron leading the
all-time series 23-13. The Zips have won eight of the last nine
match ups, including victories in the quarterfinal round of the MAC
tournament each of the last two seasons. Central Michigan claimed
last year's regular-season meeting 65-64 in Mt. Pleasant (Jan. 26,
2008).
Up Next: Akron travels to Eastern Michigan on
Tuesday for a 7 p.m. EST contest.
Zips Return Home To Face Central Michigan...
The road-weary University of Akron men's basketball team (12-8, 3-3
MAC) continues MAC cross-divisional competition by playing host to
Central Michigan (6-12, 3-3 MAC) on Saturday at noon EST at Rhodes
Arena.
The game will be televised by FSN Ohio, prompting a change to the
originally scheduled tip-off time of 7 p.m.
Winners of three straight and four of their last five games, the
Zips come off a 70-61 victory at Toledo on Wednesday. The contest
with the Rockets was UA's third in a five-day stretch, starting
with a 68-54 home win over arch-rival Kent State last Saturday and
continuing with a 67-52 decision at Youngstown State in non-league
action on Monday. Wednesday's win also marked the close to a
nine-game stretch in which Akron played seven road games, but three
of the Zips' next four outings come at home.
Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars...
• Akron is 59-7 (6-2 this season) at Rhodes Arena under
fifth-year coach Keith Dambrot. The Zips have won 27 of their last
30 MAC home games and 50 of the last 56 overall outings in front of
their hometown fans.
• UA is giving up an average of 66.2 ppg, but have allowed
just 55.4 ppg at home and have given up 61 or more just three times
in eight home dates.
• The Zips are 6-6 in away/neutral games this season (6-5
in true road games). The six victories in true road outings is the
best of any MAC program (Miami is 5-5). UA has won back-to-back and
three of its last four road tilts.
• Akron coach Keith Dambrot was head coach at Central
Michigan for two seasons (1991-92 and 1992-93), building a 20-34
record in that time.
• Akron has two players averaging around 10 points per
game – Brett McKnight 10.8 ppg (19th in MAC) and Nate
Linhart 10.4 ppg (21st in MAC) – while Anthony
"Humpty" Hitchens averages 9.8 ppg (26th in MAC). The Zips have
had six different athletes lead the team in scoring in a game.
• Chris McKnight has scored in double figures in
six-straight games (four-straight starts), averaging a team-best
12.3 points along with 5.6 rebounds in that time. He had 10 points,
six boards and three assists at Toledo.
• Nate Linhart, leads UA in rebounding (5.8
rpg/10th in MAC), steals (2.0 spg, first in MAC, 71st nationally)
and minutes (31.3 mpg).
• Linhart's 163 career steals (39 this season) (in 118
games) rank him fifth in the school record book (165 is fourth, by
Jami Bosley/1998-2000). His 860 career points (207 this season) and
522 rebounds (116 this season) rank him among the MAC's active
career leaders.
• UA's 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9
percent/100-of-335) ranks first in the MAC (15th nationally), while
its field goal percentage defense (39.9 percent/401-of-1004) is
listed second (50th nationally).
• The Zips are holding MAC opponents to a combined 37.9
percent (119-of-314) from the field, however, Toledo shot 46.8
percent (22-of-47).
• UA has forced 374 turnovers (18.7 tpg) (Toledo had 19),
while committing 275 (13.8 tpg) (18 at Toledo, tied for second most
this season, also versus Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 29). The Zips
+5.0 turnover margin ranks among the top 10 nationally and first in
the MAC. Akron is outscoring its opponents 412-274 in points off
turnovers (held a 26-13 advantage at Toledo).
• Akron is averaging a MAC-best 7.2 3-pointers made per
game and converted 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) at Toledo. The Zips have
made eight or more seven times this season (season-best 13 versus
N.C. A&T on Dec. 13).
• The Zips 72.4 percent (246-of-340) free throw shooting
ranks first in the MAC. Darryl Roberts leads the conference at 95.8
percent (46-of-48).
