The University of Akron Athletics
No. 1 Akron Meets No. 3 Buffalo for MAC Tournament Championship
March 12 | Men's Basketball
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MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Central
No.1 Akron vs No. 3 Buffalo Game Notes | Live stats | Video | Audio
No. 1 Akron Zips (26-7, 13-5 MAC) vs No. 3 Buffalo Bulls (19-14, 10-8 MAC)
MAC Tournament • Saturday, March 12
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland, Ohio • 7:30 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN2 - Mike Morgan (PxP) and Chris Spatola (Analyst)
Webcast: GoZips.com - Live Stats or ESPN3 Web Stream
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network - Steve French (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst)
WARF 1350 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips
Head Coaches
Nate Oats (Maranatha Baptist)
Overall Record: 19-14 (1st season)
Record at UB: 19-14 (1st season)
MAC Record:MAC Record: 10-8 (1st season)
MAC Tournament: 2-0 (1st Season)
Keith Dambrot (Akron '82)
Overall Record: 386-198 (18th season)
Record at Akron: 278-128 (12th season)
MAC Record: 151-85 (14th season)
MAC Tournament: 25-8 (14th Season)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 32-24 | Dambrot vs Buffalo: 15-11 (15-11 UA) | Last Meeting: Akron 80, Buffalo 70 | February 16, 2016 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 (26-7), Duke (23-10), Gonzaga (26-7), Kansas (29-4), and Ohio State (20-13). Currently, the Zips, the Jayhawks, the Bulldogs, and the Blue Devils have 11-straight 21+ win seasons under their belt. (as of March 11)
• Akron secured the 2015-16 MAC Regular Season Championship, No. 1 Seed in MAC Tournament, and East Division Title with a 91-76 win over Ohio. The Zips set a pair of all-time records with 20 made 3-pointers in a game and 43 attempts (March 1). Akron has won a program-high 26 games three times
• Akron is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA for 3-point FG's made per game, total 3-point FG's made and 3-point FG defense. UA ranks in the NCAA's Top 100 in 19-of-32 statistical categories (346 teams), including four Top 5 appearances: 3-pt FG per game (2nd, 11.9), 3-pt FGM (2nd, 369), 3-pt FG defense (2nd, 29.0), and 3-pt FG attempted (3rd, 937). Akroni s 15th in 3-pt FG percentage (.394). (March 8)
• Akron is 25-8 in the MAC Tournament under head coach Keith Dambrot, going 19-4 in its last 23 tournament games. In 12 years under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have won at least one game in the MAC Tournament every year. The Zips own a 22-9 record at Quicken Loans Arena. The Zips are making their 18th MAC Tournament Championship appearance in 10 years (3-4 all-time record).
• Akron (26-7, 13-5 MAC) finished the regular season 15-0 at home, 6-7 away, and 3-0 in neutral site games. Akron has won at least 21 games in 11-straight seasons under 12th-year head coach Dambrot and currently owns a 29 NCAA RPI and ranks 82nd best in the country on the Ken Pomeroy RPI (3/11)What's Ahead
• Akron made its 11th-straight MAC Tournament semifinal appearance in 2016 for the longest streak is league tournament history (since 1980) -- Miami (Ohio) 15-straight (1992-2001) .
• In the MAC Tournament, Akron is 5-6 in the opening round (4-0 under Dambrot), 1-0 in the second round (all under Dambrot), 9-3 in the third round (9-2 under Dambrot), 8-3 in the Semifinals (all under Dambrot) and 3-4 in the Championship game (all under Dambrot).
• Eleven teams have won at least 19 games in each season since 2004-05.Akron (26-7), Duke (23-10), Gonzaga (26-7), Kansas (29-4), Louisville (23-8), Michigan State (27-5), North Carolina (27-6), Ohio State (20-13), Pittsburgh (21-11), VCU (23-9), and Wisconsin (20-12).
• The Zips extended its winning streak to 10 games before a two-game skid falling to Central Michigan, 92-81, and Toledo, 78-64. The Zips bounced back with seven-straight league wins over Eastern Michigan, 92-88, Miami (OH), 75-46, NIU ,76-66, Ball State, 73-64, Ohio, 80-68, CMU, 92-87, and BGSU, 83-68, for an 10-3 league record. Akron recorded its second-best winning streak (10 games) under Dambrot behind a 19-game run in 2012-13.
• Four Zips are scoring in double figures, and six players have connected from downtown on at least 35 occasions with five posting 50+ triples this season. The Zips have made at least one 3-pointer in 511 straight games and have a program-best 378 made 3-pointers this season.
• 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 Zips will play for their fifth NCAA Tournament berth in the Division I era when the squad battles No. 3 Buffalo on Saturday, March 12. The championship tilt, Akron's eighth overall and first since 2013, will tip at 7:30 p.m. ET and be televised by ESPN2 with Mike Morgan calling the action and Chris Spatola providing analysis. Fans can join the action at The Q after visiting the Zips' official tailgating headquarters, the Corner Alley. The Corner Alley is located on East 4th and Euclid in Cleveland. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats of ESPN3 web stream.
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 7:00 p.m. ET. A free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
The Akron-Buffalo Series
Tuesday's game marks the 57th meeting in series history between Akron and Buffalo, and 27th meeting for a Dambrot coached UA squad. Akron holds a 32-24 all-time series advantage, while the Zips are 15-11 against the Bulls under Dambrot. Akron and Buffalo's first meeting this season opened MAC play on January, 5, at Alumni Arena, Zips won 75-71. Akron posted a second win over the Bulls, 80-70 (Feb. 16) at James A Rhodes Arena. The series is 3-2 over the last two seasons as the Bulls won 2-of-3 meetings in 2014-15, a 68-59 win on March 19 in the semifinal game of the MAC Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. The Zips and Bulls are 1-1 in the MAC Tournament all-time.
Scouting the BULLS
Buffalo enters the contest with a 19-14 overall record and 2-0 in the MAC Tournament, defeating No. 11 Miami (94-81) and No. 2 Ohio (88-74). The Bulls are 10-5 at home, 5-9 on the road, and 4-0 in neutral site contests this season. Buffalo posted a 10-8 MAC record this season.
The Bulls have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Lamonte Bearden with 13.6 points per outing. He is shooting 42.8 percent from the floor (121-of-283) with a team-high 116 assists and 48 steals. Blake Hamilton follows with 13.1 points per game at a 46.3 percent clip (144-of-311) with a second-best 47 triples. Also scoring double digits are Willie Conner (12.2 ppg) and C.J. Massinburg (11.1 ppg). Conner shoots 46.6 percent from the field (129-of-277) while Massinburg connects with 44.0 percent of his shots (114-of-259), including a team-best 38.5 percent from downtown (40-of-104). The Bulls deep threat is Jarryn Skeete, who has a team-high 59 made 3-pointers in 181 attempts (.326) while averaging 8.0 points per game.
Defensively, the Bulls have allowed opponents to score 75.6 points a night on 43.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.7 percent from downtown with 7.2 made 3-pt FG per game. Buffalo caused 438 turnovers (13.3 tpg) while collecting 227 steals (6.9 stl/g) and 119 blocked shots (3.6 bpg).
Last Time Out Against the Bulls
After a tough first half battle, the Akron men's basketball team used a stout defensive effort and timely shooting to defeat the Buffalo Bulls, 80-70, at James A. Rhodes Arena. For the game, Akron shot 41.3 percent (26-of-62), and hit 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from behind the arc. The Zips shot 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the charity stripe. The Bulls shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the field and shot 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from behind the three-point line. Buffalo converted on 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the free throw line. Sophomores Antino Jackson and Noah Robotham scored 20 points and 16 points, respectively, while junior Isaiah Johnson added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Zips jumped out to a quick lead after Jackson scored four early points and Robotham buried a triple from the top of the key. After a few minutes of back-and-forth action, the Bulls used a 7-0 run to take a 26-20 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Buffalo continued to pressure the Zips on the defensive end and created points in the paint, pushing them to a 36-23 lead with just over four minutes left in the half. The Zips closed the half with a 10-0 run to cut the halftime deficit to 36-33.
After the break, Jackson scored five quick points to tie the game at 38 apiece. After a steal on the defensive end, Robotham buried a triple from the corner to put Akron ahead 47-42, forcing Buffalo to use a timeout to halt the Zips momentum. Reggie McAdams, who did not score in the initial stanza, knocked down three consecutive triples, leading the Zips on a 14-5 run and pushing Akron to a 56-47 lead. The Bulls used a 14-5 run to tie the game at 64 with eight minutes remaining, but the Zips scored nine unanswered to regain the lead, 73-64. A late triple by Robotham increased the Zips lead to 12 and sealed the home-court victory.
The Zips in the MAC
Akron is 89-42 in the regular season against the West Division (.679), including winners of 33 of the last 41 regular-season contests, since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season, and 62-21 under head coach Keith Dambrot (.747). The Zips have posted a 39-17 mark (.696) in the last 56 games against the MAC East dating back to the start of the 2012 league schedule. Akron is 5-1 against the MAC East at the conference tournament during that stretch.
Akron is 42-7 at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule (.857). UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 140-61 overall (.697), including an 86-14 mark in MAC play at home (.860). The Zips' 140 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 61 of their last 86 MAC games (.709).
Akron is 25-8 in the MAC Tournament under head coach Keith Dambrot, going 19-4 in its last 23 tournament games. In 12 years under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have won at least one game in the MAC Tournament every year. The Zips own a 22-8 record at Quicken Loans Arena.
2015-16 MAC Champions
The Akron Zips secured the MAC Regular Season Championship, No. 1 Seed in the MAC Tournamnet, and East Division Title on March 1 with a 91-76 win over Ohio. The Zips used a record-breaking performance from behind the arc, knocking down 20 triples on 43 attempts, both new all-time standards. Akron has captured the a regular season or tournament title five of the last eight seasons. The Zips were regular season champs in 2012 (22-12, 13-3 MAC) and 2015 (23-7, 12-5 MAC). Akron won the MAC Tournament in 2009 (23-13, 10-6 MAC) and 2011 (23-13, 9-7 MAC). The Zips swept the regular season and tournament titles in 2013 (26-7, 14-2 MAC). In addition, Akron claimed the East Division title in 2007 (26-7, 13-3 MAC). Akron tied the program's all-time record with 26 wins. (1972, 2007, 2013)
Streaking Zips
The Akron Zips needs one more win to set the schools all-time single season win record (27). Akron went 15-0 at Rhodes Arena, outscoring its opponents by 18.2 points at the JAR. Its only the third time in Rhodes Arena history (1982) that the Zips went through a home schedule undefeated season, and second time for Dambrot. The 2005-06 team went 13-0, and the 1987-86 Zips went 17-0 under head coach Bob Huggins.Akron used two different winning streaks to get to 21 wins, including the most recent seven game run, defeating EMU (92-88), Miami (75-46), NIU (76-66), Ball State (73-64), Ohio (80-68), CMU (92-87), and BGSU (83-68) before falling to NIU (80-79). Earlier this season, the Zips established a 10-game winning streak before falling on the road to CMU, 92-81 (Jan. 12). The run began at James A. Rhodes Arena on Nov. 27 with a win over Charleston Southern. The Zips continued its winning ways, defeating Coppin State (H,12/2), Marshall (A, 12/4), Bethune-Cookman (H, 12/12), UC Santa Barbara (N, 12/21), Iona (N, 12/23), SC State (H,12/30), Lipscomb (H,1/2), Buffalo (A, 1/5), and Western Michigan (H, 1/8). Akron's 13-2 record to start the season marks the best start for a Dambrot squad and best in Akron's Division I era. Akron won at least 19 games every season under Dambrot.
Speaking Defensively
Akron is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA for 3-point field goal defense and No. 86 for field-goal percentage defense while claiming the top spot in the MAC for 3-point FG defense and third in FG defense. Akron defends the perimeter, limiting the opposition to shoot just 29.3 percent from 3-point range (190-of-649). The Zips have held all but five opponents to no more than eight 3-pointers per game -- Ball State made 12 triples, Lipscomb made 11, and Central Michigan notched 10 while the No. 11 ranked Villanova Wildcats, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois connected with nine each. NIU and Ohio posted eight triples. Akron has allowed seven 3pt FG three times, six (5), five (6), four (4), three (2), two (2) and one (2). Akron also challenges shots from other areas of the court, forcing opponents to shoot 41.3 percent from the field. The Zips' overall scoring defense is rated 88th best in the NCAA and fourth in the MAC, allowing the opposition to average 68.0 points per game.
On the Glass
The Zips are currently ranked second in the MAC and 64th in the NCAA for defensive rebounds per game with 26.81 boards per game, and sixth in the MAC for offensive rebounds per game, 10.63. Akron has pulled down a total of 885 defensive rebounds and 351 offensive boards for a 1,236 total effort. The 37.45 total rebounds per game ranks fourth in MAC play and 90th in the NCAA.
Sharp Shooting
Akron set a new all-time best mark from behind the arc after matching the all-time best mark against Bowling Green. The Zips poured in 19 triples against BGSU on Feb. 26 and followed with 20 long distance buckets against Ohio on March 1 at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips shot a little above 46 percent both nights attempting all-time high 41 and 43 shots, respectively. Akron has made at least seven 3-pointers in every game this season, including15 games with 11+ triples. Akron buried 16 triples on 32 attempts (.500) in back-to-back games against CMU and BGSU. The Zips have connected from downtown 15 times per game on four occasions, 14 times once, 13 times on five nights, 12 three times, and 11 twice. The Zips also have two games with 10 from deep, seven games with nine, four with seven and one game with eight. The Zips have buried a program-best 378 triples this season.
Six players have made at least 35 triples this season with Reggie McAdams leading the way. McAdams poured in a career-best seven 3-pointers three times this season, including back-to-back efforts against Bowling Green and Ohio, while connecting with a team-best 92 long-range shots. He is connecting at a 41.8 percent rate, first in the MAC and 39th in the NCAA. Jake Kretzer follows with 68 made 3-point buckets at a 41.7 percent rate while Antino Jackson (63), Josh Williams (55), Noah Robotham (55), and Kwan Cheatham, Jr. (37) round out the top six.
For the season, the Zips are shooting 43.6 percent from the field on 865-of-1982, including a 39.0 percent, 387-of-994 effort from deep. The Zips 11.7 triples made per game ranks first in the MAC and No. 2 overall in the NCAA. The 387 made 3-pointers are first in the MAC and No. 2 in the NCAA while 994 attempts are No. 3 in the NCAA and first in MAC play. The Zips are first in the MAC for scoring margin at +9.5 and 40th in the NCAA.
The Zips put on a massive shooting performance against Arkansas. The Zips shot 50.9 percent from the field, draining 29-of-57 shots. 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 first time this season, the Zips connected at a 50-percent rate from long range for the game in a 92-88 win over Eastern Michigan. Akron went 13-of-26 from long distance, including a career-best seven 3-pointers made by McAdams. The Zips followed with a 53.8 percent showing from deep (14-of-26) against Miami (Ohio) while Williams notched a game- and career-high five triples with 15 points.
Against Ball State, the Zips had the hot hand, connecting with 52-percent of its shots for a 26-of-50 effort. Akron was 10-of-24 from downtown (.417) and 11-of-15 from the charity stripe (.733). The Zips followed with back-to-back 50-percent performances from beyond the arc and against Central Michigan and Bowling Green. The Zips buried a season-high 16 triples in both contests (16-of-32) . Akron followed with a 15-of-34 (.441) effort from deep against NIU.
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 27.7 points per game (915 total points). The UA reserves are shooting 46.7 percent from the floor (307-of-658), 39.2 percent from long range (123-of-314), and 65.9 from the free throw line (178-of-270). The UA bench has contributed 17.4 rebounds per game (573), including 11.96 defensive (397) and 5.45 offensive (176). The squad is receiving 4.5 assists (149), 1.5 steals (50), and 1.5 blocked shots (50).
Four Zips Averaging Double Figures
Four Zips are averaging double figures in scoring, led by a trio of 11+ scorers. Junior center Isaiah Johnson leads the way, contributing 13.6 points per game. Johnson registered six 20+ point scoring performances, including a career-high 24 points against South Carolina State and Kent State. He leads the Zips in shooting percentage and on the glass, shooting 58.2 percent (163-of-280) with 248 total rebounds or 7.5 reb/g. Sophomore guard Antino Jackson follows with 11.8 ppg while making several big plays with clutch shooting from the outside. He has made 63 long-range shots and owns a team-best 117 assists (3.5 apg).
Reaching a career-best shooting performance from beyond the arc three times, senior wing Reggie McAdams is third in scoring with an 11.5 average. McAdams' 43.5 percent from the floor and 41.8 from deep supports 118 total field goals and a team-best 92 triples. Sophomore guard Noah Robotham rounds out the double-digit scoring. His 10.1 ppg are generated by a 43.1 percent effort from the floor (88-of-204), including a 55-of-130 team-high 42.3 percent mark from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Starting Five
Reggie McAdams is the Zips' only player to start all 33 games this season. Kwan Cheatham and Antino Jackson follow with 32 starts apiece while Noah Robotham and Pat Forsythe have 26 and 19, respectively. Isaiah Johnson entered a starting lineup for eight games while Forsythe went down with injuries, while Jake Kretzer and Josh Williams each have seven and four starts, respectively.
The starting five have combined for1643 of the 2558 total points scored for 49.8 points per game. They are shooting a combined 42.1 percent from the field (558-of-1324), including 38.8 percent from deep (264-of-680) and 71.7 percent effort from the free throw line (263-of-367). The starting unit has contributed 20.1 rebounds per game (663), including 15.0 defensive (488) and 5.4 offensive (175). The squad is receiving 10.0 assists (331), 3.8 steals (127), and 2.5 blocked shots (83).
Starting the Season Off Right
The 2015-16 Akron Zips started the season with a 3-0 winning streak and completed a 10 game 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, Hiram, and Cleveland State. After two setbacks, the Zips continued its winning ways, posting a 13-2 overall record. The 13-2 start is the best start to a season in Akron basketball's Division I era. 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.
