Zips' Hoops Starts Practice for Foreign Tour

July 27 | Men's Basketball

2016-17 Summer Prospectus | Atlantis Foreign Tour Information | Practice Photos

AKRON, Ohio – Every four years NCAA institutions are permitted to participate in a "Foreign Tour" during the summer vacation period, which includes 10 practice sessions. On Wednesday, the Akron men's basketball team began preparing for its international trip to Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas on Aug, 12-17.

Akron is scheduled to play two games against a pair of domestic teams from Nassau, beginning with its first game on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 1 p.m. followed by a contest on Monday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.

The Zips return three starters and nine letterwinners from last season's squad that won the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Championship and made its sixth National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance in program history, fourth under 13th-year head coach Keith Dambrot (1987, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016).

The starters include: senior forward Kwan Cheatham, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior guard Antino Jackson (Houston, Texas), and junior guard Noah Robotham (Las Vegas, Nev.). The additional six letterwinners are: the 2016 MAC Sixth Man of the Year, senior center Isaiah Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior guard Aaron Jackson (Gahanna, Ohio), sophomore wing Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio), the 2016 MAC Freshman of the Year, Josh Williams (Akron, Ohio), and a pair of senior walk-ons in Mark Noble (Akron, Ohio) and Carlitos Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio).

The Zips also have five non-letterwinners returning and three newcomers. Redshirt junior wing Craig Eubanks (Cleveland, Ohio) will be joined by four returning redshirt freshmen, including forwards Peter Agba (Greensboro, N.C.), Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas), Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas), and guard Marquelle McIntyre.

The newcomers include center Michael Hughes (Liberty, Mo.), guard Tavian Dunn-Martin (Huntington, W.Va.), and Ty Dalton (Houston, Texas).

In 2015-16, the Zips posted a 26-9 overall record and 13-5 league mark, highlighted by tying the school record for wins in a season (26) and its third undefeated (15-0) season at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron improved to 162-23 (.876) at Rhodes Arena under Dambrot, who earned his second MAC Coach of the Year and NABC All-District Coach of the Year awards.

In addition, the Zips achieved its best start in school history, winning its first three games, and after two setbacks, won 10-straight contests from Nov. 27 through Jan. 8 to move to 13-2 overall. Akron recorded its second-best winning streak (10 games) under Dambrot behind a 19-game run in 2012-13. The streak helped UA receive votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and ranked as high as No. 8 on the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll while achieving a program-best 28 NCAA RPI.

Akron also set program records in 3-point FG made (409) and attempted (1,069) in a season, as well as, made (20) and attempted (43) in a game. UA posted 21 or more wins for a 11th-straight season, joining the likes of Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas and Ohio State. Over the last 12 seasons, the Zips have won 278 games, most by any team in the MAC.

UA ranked in the NCAA's Top 100 in 20-of-32 statistical categories (346 teams), including four Top 5's: 3-pt FG per game (2nd, 11.7), 3-pt FGM (2nd, 409), 3-pt FG attempted (2nd, 1,069), and 3-pt FG defense (3rd, .294). Akron was 32nd in 3-pt FG percentage (.383).

Akron made its 11th-straight MAC Tournament Semifinal appearance in 2016, setting a new mark for the longest streak is league tournament history (since 1980) -- Miami (Ohio) 10-straight (1992-2001).

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