The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens MAC Play on Tuesday vs. Western Michigan
January 05 | Men's Basketball
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Western Michigan (9-4, 0-0 MAC) vs. Akron (9-4, 0-0 MAC)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 • 7:00 p.m. ET
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio
Television: None.
Webcast and Live Stats: Available at GoZips.com – webcast and live statistics free of charge.
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network – SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) and for free at GoZips.com/TuneIn. Steve French (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (analyst) will have the call beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Akron-Western Michigan Series: The Zips lead the overall series, 23-19, and are 12-6 in Akron vs. the Broncos. WMU won both meetings last season, including a 64-60 overtime win in the MAC Tournament semifinals (March 14, 2014). The Zips have won 12 of the last 15 in the series.
Scouting the Broncos: Western Michigan enters tonight's contest with a 9-4 record, 0-0 in MAC play. The Broncos have won three-straight and are 4-4 on the road (2-3 in true road games).
Four Broncos are scoring in double figures, including Connar Tava (15.2 ppg), David Brown (13.7 ppg), Tucker Haymond (12.6 ppg) and Austin Richie (10.9 ppg). Tava leads the team in rebounding (5.9 rpg).
News, Notes and Storylines
- Akron opens Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday when it welcomes defending MAC Champion Western Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena.
- The Zips are coming off a 79-62 win over Coppin State to conclude non-conference play on January 3.
- UA is 15-7 in MAC openers (9-1 at home) since joining the league in 1992.
- The Zips are 7-3, including winners of five straight, when opening MAC play under head coach Keith Dambrot.
- UA is 65-21 (.756) in the month of January under 11th-year head coach Keith Dambrot, having won 24 of the last 26 games in the first month of the year.
- Akron has hit eight or more 3-pointers in 10 games this season. The Zips are 8-2 when they make at least eight long balls in a contest. Akron is second in the Mid-American Conference in 3-pointers made per game (8.8).
- The Zips have forced 69 turnovers (23.0 tpg) thanks to 30 steals (10.0 spg) over the last three games. UA has scored 76 points off those turnovers (25.3 ppg).
- Akron is winning the turnover battle so far this season. The Zips have committed fewer turnovers than their opponents in 10 games. The Zips have forced 166 turnovers, converting them into 232 points (17.8 ppg).
On the Line vs. Western Michigan
- A victory will snap a two-game losing streak against Western Michigan.
- An Akron victory will be the sixth-straight win in MAC openers for the Zips.
- A win will be the 25th in the last 27 games in the month of January for the Zips.
Odds and Ends
- The Zips are 6-1 when Kwan Cheatham, Jr., scores at least 10 points, including 5-1 this year.
- Ten of Akron's 14 players have posted at least one game with 10 or more points this season.
- The Zips have seven players with at least 10 made 3-pointers this season.
- Deji Ibitayo has more double-figure scoring performances in his last 21 games (11) than he had in his previous 60 games (5).
- UA has at least one blocked shot in 45-straight and 97 of the last 98 games. Additionally, Akron has blocked multiple shots in 94 of those 97 games.
- Head coach Keith Dambrot was named the 19th-best college coach for the money in 2014 by Forbes Magazine.
MAC Play Notes
- The Zips have been the last undefeated team in MAC in each of the last three seasons (3-0 in 2011-12; 13-0 in 2012-13; 3-0 in 2013-14).
- Akron is 80-35 in the regular season against the West Division (.696), including winners of 23 of the last 25 contests, since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season (50-14 under head coach Keith Dambrot).
- The Zips have posted a 26-10 mark (.722) in the last 36 games against the MAC East dating back to the start of the 2012 league schedule. Akron is 4-1 against the MAC East at the conference tournament during that stretch.
- Akron is 28-5 at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule (.848).
- UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season. Akron is 119-47 overall (.717), including a 71-12 mark in MAC play at home (.855). The Zips' 119 wins are the most in the league during that stretch.
- The Zips have won 39 of their last 50 regular-season MAC games (.780).
Looking Ahead: Akron will hit the road for an ESPNU matchup with Toledo on Friday, Jan. 9, at Savage Arena in Toledo. Tip off between the Zips and the Rockets is set for 7 p.m. ET.
