The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Welcomes Toledo in Mid-Week Matchup at Rhodes Arena
February 17 | Men's Basketball
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Toledo (16-9, 8-4 MAC) at Akron (17-8, 8-4 MAC)
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 • 7:00 p.m. ET
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio
Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel & ESPN3.
Webcast and Live Stats: Available at GoZips.com – webcast (home games only) 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-Toledo Series: Toledo owns a 31-26 advantage in the all-time series which began during the 1915-16 season. Akron has won seven of nine in the series, falling 84-67 at Toledo on January 9. UA is 15-9 at home against Toledo, winning six of the last seven games at Rhodes Arena.
Scouting the Rockets: Toledo enters tonight's game with a 16-9 record and is 8-4 in MAC play. The Rockets are 7-5 on the road overall, but are 4-1 in the MAC. Toledo's lone road loss in MAC play came at Kent State on Jan. 21.
Four players are scoring in double figures, including Julius Brown (16.4 ppg), Justin Drummond (13.2 ppg), J.D. Weatherspoon (12.5 ppg) and Jonathan Williams (10.9 ppg). Weatherspoon leads the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg).
News, Notes and Storylines
- Akron opens a two-game home stand on Wednesday when it plays host to Toledo.
- The Zips are coming off a 78-75 road setback at Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
- The Zips have won 27 of their last 32 regular-season contests against opponents from the MAC's West Division (.844), including a 4-3 mark this season.
- UA has turned the ball over 10.3 times per game over the last three contests while forcing 15.0 turnovers per game (+4.7). The Zips are averaging 18.7 ppg off turnovers during that stretch.
- Akron has hit eight or more 3-pointers in 20 games this season. The Zips are 14-6 when they make at least eight long balls in a contest. Akron is second in the Mid-American Conference and 10th nationally in 3-pointers made per game (9.4). Akron has made 46 3-pointers over the last four games, going 46-of-111 (.414).
- UA is 57-25 (.695) in the month of February under 11th-year head coach Keith Dambrot.
- The UA defense is holding opponents to 44.3 percent shooting from inside the arc, 57th nationally. The Zips are holding opponents to just 0.949 points per possession, 73rd nationally.
- Akron is winning the turnover battle so far this season. The Zips have committed fewer turnovers than their opponents in 17 games. The Zips have forced 354 turnovers, converting them into 403 points (16.1 ppg).
What You May Not Know About the Series
- Since cross divisional play began (1997-98), Akron owns an 13-8 record against Toledo.
- Former Zip Nick Dials (2006-08) is in his first season as an assistant coach with Toledo.
On the Line vs. Toledo
- A win would give Akron a split of the season series and snap a two-game losing streak in the series for the Zips.
- A Zips' win will be the 28th in the last 33 regular-season games against MAC West opponents.
- An Akron win will guarantee the Zips are no worse than one game behind East Division and overall MAC leader Bowling Green.
Odds and Ends
- Akron is 16-0 this season when leading with 5:00 to go in a game.
- The Zips are 7-2 when Kwan Cheatham, Jr., scores at least 10 points, including 6-2 this year.
- Eleven of Akron's 14 players have posted at least one game with 10 or more points. Nine of those players have scored 13 or more points at least once this season.
- The Zips have six players with at least 25 made 3-pointers this season.
- Deji Ibitayo has more double-figure scoring performances in his last 32 games (16) than he had in his previous 60 games (5).
- UA has at least one blocked shot in 57-straight and 109 of the last 110 games. Additionally, Akron has blocked multiple shots in 108 of those 109 games.
- For the first time in program history, the Zips played two-consecutive games decided by one point (69-68 win at Bowling Green, Jan. 31; 83-82 loss at Ohio, Feb. 4).
- Head coach Keith Dambrot was named the 19th-best college coach for the money in 2014 by Forbes Magazine.
MAC Play Notes
- Akron is 84-38 in the regular season against the West Division (.689), including winners of 27 of the last 32 regular-season contests, since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season [57-17 under head coach Keith Dambrot (.770)].
- The Zips have posted a 30-11 mark (.732) in the last 41 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.
- UA is 48-18 (.727) against MAC opponents in the month of February under Dambrot, including a 33-5 record at Rhodes Arena (.868).
- Akron is 34-5 at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule (.872).
- UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season. Akron is 127-51 overall (.713), including a 77-12 mark in MAC play at home (.865). The Zips' 127 wins are the most in the league during that stretch.
- The Zips have won 47 of their last 62 regular-season MAC games (.758).
- Akron has not been swept in a home-and-home season series by a MAC opponent since the 2011-12 season (Buffalo).
Looking Ahead: Akron concludes its two-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 21, when it plays host to Miami (Ohio). The game is the first of two meetings between the Zips and RedHawks. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET following the women's game vs. Ohio (5 p.m.).
