The University of Akron Athletics
Game 2: South Point Holiday Hoops Classic vs Iona
December 22 | Men's Basketball
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Dambrot on Twitter
Purchase Men's Basketball Individual Game and Season Tickets Click Here
Iona vs Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Day Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (TuneIn)
Follow Free Live Statistics
Watch Webstream
Akron Zips (8-2) vs. Iona Gaels (4-5)
Game 11 • Wednesday, Dec. 23
South Point Holiday Hoops Classic
Las Vegas, Nevada • 3:00 p.m. ET
Television: None
Webcast: GoZips.com - Live Stats and Webstream
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network - Steve French (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst)WARF 1350 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips
Head Coaches
Tim Cluess (Hofstra '83)
Overall Record: 242-92 (20th season)
Record at Iona: 122-59 (5th season)
Keith Dambrot (Akron '82)
Overall Record: 368-193 (18th season)
Record at Akron: 260-123 (12th season)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 4-0 | Dambrot vs Iona: 0-0
Last Meeting: Akron 85, Iona 78 | December 11, 2002 at James A Rhodes Arena
Akron basketball Notes:
• One of five teams to win at least 21 games in each of the last 10 seasons.Akron, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Ohio State.
• Eleven teams have won at least 19 games in each season since 2004-05.Akron, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, VCU and Wisconsin.
• Akron owns 3-2 record against Power Five Conference opponents over the last two seasons, and has five-straight seasons with at least one win over a Power Five Conference opponent (at Mississippi State in 2011-12; vs. Penn State in 2012-13; vs. Oregon State in 2013-14; Southern California and South Carolina in 2014-15; vs. Arkansas in 2015-16)
What's Ahead
The University of Akron men's basketball team continues its non-conference schedule with the final game at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. (Dec. 21-23) against the Iona Gaels of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Tip-off for the Wed., Dec. 23 matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. On Dec.21, the Zips defeated UC Santa Barbara Gauchos of the Big West Conference, 84-70, extending its winning streak to five games. The Zips are 2-0 in neutral site competitions this season.
Under 12th year head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips started the 2015-16 season with a 7-2 record, collecting wins over Cleveland State, Hiram, Arkansas, Charleston Southern, Coppin State, Marshall, and Bethune-Cookman while falling to the No. 9 ranked Villanova Wildcats and Green Bay.
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network [SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) with Steve French calling the action and Joe Dunn providing analysis. The pregame show starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
The Akron-Iona Series
Wednesday's game marks the fifth meeting in series history between Akron and Iona, and first for a Dambrot coached Zips squad. The two teams first met on Dec. 20, 1955 at a holiday tournament in Quantico, Va. Akron claimed the initial meeting 67-54. Next, they met during the 1993-94 season on Dec. 4 at James A. Rhodes Arena for the Zips second win, 75-66. On Nov. 17, 2001 at Iona, the Zips won its season opener 67-64, and the following season on Dec. 11, Akron hosted the Gaels for a 85-78 triumph.
Scouting the Gaels
Iona is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 4-5 overall record. They average 82.1 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field (252-of-559) and 40.4 percent from 3-point range (101-of-250).
The Gaels have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by A.J. English with 25 points per outing. He is shooting at a 45.5 percent clip from the floor (40-of-88), including a 45.6 percent effort from long range (26-of-57). English adds a team-high 41 assists (6.83 apg), 22 rebounds (3.7 rpg), seven steals (1.17 spg) and seven blocked shots (1.17 bpg) -- He has not played the last three contests. Also scoring double digits for Iona are Jordan Washington (15.0 ppg), Deyshonee Much (13.9 ppg), and Isaiah Williams (12.0 ppg). Washington is shooting 54.4 percent from the field (54-of-100), Much leads the squad with 17 steals (1.89 spg), and Williams owns a team-high 63 rebounds (7.0 rpg)
Defensively, Iona has allowed opponents to score 79.8 points a night on 44.5 percent shooting from the field (244-of-548) and 36.8 percent from downtown (68-of-185). The Gaels caused 127 turnovers (14.1 tpg) while collecting 72 steals (8.0 spg) and 33 blocked shots (3.7 bpg).
Streaking Zips
The Akron Zips are currently on a five-game winnng streak, beginning at the James A. Rhodes Arena on Nov. 27 with a win over Charleston Southern. The Zips continued its winning ways, defeating Coppin State (Home, Dec. 2), Marshall (Away, Dec. 4), Bethune-Cookman (Home, Dec. 12), and UC Santa Barbara (Neutral, Dec. 21).
The Zips last five-game winning streak was during the 2013-14 season. They had two stretches with five-straight wins, Dec. 7-22, defeating Cleveland State, Bethune-Cookman, Oral Roberts, Detroit, and Oregon State and Dec. 31-Jan. 15 defeating Coppin State, Marshall, Ball State, Ohio, and Toledo.
Speaking Defensively
The Akron ranks in the Top 5 of two NCAA defensive categories while claiming the top spot in the MAC for all three areas. Akron defends the perimeter, limiting the opposition to shoot just 24.4 percent from 3-point range (52-of-213), ranking 2nd in the NCAA for 3-point field goal defense. Akron also challenges shots from other areas of the court, forcing opponents to shoot 35.8 percent from the field (228-of-636), which ranks 7th in the NCAA for field-goal percentage defense. The Zips overall scoring defense is rated 28th in the NCAA, allowing the visitors to average 62.8 points per game.
Sharp Shooting
The Zips put on a massive shooting performance against Arkansas. The Zips managed to shoot 50.9 percent from the field, cashing in on 29-of-57 shots. In addition, Akron posted a 46.4 percent 3-point effort on 13-of-28 shooting.
Akron opened the South Point Holiday Classic with the hot hand as well. In the first half, the Zips shot 51.7 percent (15-of -29) from the floor and a blistering 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from downtown. Akron knocked down 10 triples in the first 20 minutes. Akron finished the game shooting 48.2 percent, 27-of-56 from the field, including a 46.9 percent, 15-of-32 performance from downtown. Akron also connected with 15-of-21 shots from the free throw line for a 71.4 percent showing.
For the season, the Zips are shooting 42.6 percent from the field on 261-of-612, including a 38.9 percent, 112-of-288 performance from deep. The Zips 11.2 triples made per game ranks first in the MAC and 5th overall in the NCAA while the 112 made 3-pointers is first in the MAC and 22nd in the NCAA. The Zips also lead the MAC in scoring margin at +14.3 and 35th in the NCAA.
On the Glass
The Zips are currently ranked first in the MAC and 20th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game with 29.9 boards per game. Akron has pulled down a total of 299 defensive rebounds and 130 offensive boards for a 429 total effort. The 42.9 total rebounds per game ranks first in MAC play and 23rd in the NCAA.
Off the Bench
The Akron bench has been the catalyst for success under 12th-year head coach Keith Dambrot and this year is no different. The Zips' bench is scoring 27.0 points per game (270 total points). The UA reserves are shooting 44.9 percent from the floor (89-of-198), 39.1 percent from long range (36-of-92), and 64.4 from the free throw line (56-of-87). The UA bench has contributed 21.7 rebounds per game (217), including 14.0 defensive (140) and 7.7 offensive (77). The squad is receiving 5.0 assists (50), 2.2 blocked shots (22), and 1.9 steals (19).
Three Zips Averaging Double Figures
Three of the Zips' starting five players average double-digits in scoring led by senior center Pat Forsythe and sophomore guard Noah Robotham with 11.8 points per game. Forsythe earned MAC East Player of the Week honors (Nov. 30-Dec. 7) after registering back-to-back 20-point performances. He is shooting 50.5 percent from the field (48-of-95) with a second-best 6.9 rebounds per night (69 total rebounds). Robotham's 11.8 ppg is generated by a 50.0 percent effort from the floor (14-of-28), including a 10-of-19, 52.6 percent mark from beyond the 3-point arc. Closely following is sophomore guard Antino Jackson with 11.7 ppg and a team-high 43 assists (4.3 apg). Senior wing Reggie McAdams and Junior forward Kwan Cheatham add 9.3 and 7.2 points a game to the starting unit.
The starting five have combined for 501-of-771 total points scored and are shooting a combined 41.5 percent from the field (172-of-414), including a 69.8 percent effort from the free throw line (81- of-116) and 38.8 percent from deep (76-of-196).
Starting the Season Off Right
The 2015-16 Akron Zips started the season with a 3-0 winning streak. The three consecutive wins to open the season marks the best start in the Division I era of Akron men's basketball history, defeating Arkansas 88-80, Hiram 100-30, and Cleveland State 65-53. In addition, the Zips win over the Razorbacks marks the fifth consecutive season the Zips posted a win over a Power Five Conference opponent.
The Zips are 70-45 (.609) all-time in season openers. Taking it a step further, Akron is 56-12 (.824) when starting the season at home. UA has opened the season at home six times under 12th year head coach Keith Dambrot, standing 5-1. In addition, the Zips own a 94-21 home opening record at Rhodes Arena and have been winners in the last 13-of-15 home opening games.
Up Next For the Zips
The Akron basketball team will be back in action at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio on Wed., Dec. 30, playing host to non-conference opponent South Carolina State at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the action free via Live Stats and Webcast at GoZips.com or by Zips' radio broadcast on Akron-IMG Sports Network available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
