The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Non-Conference Men's Basketball Schedule Released
August 23 | Men's Basketball
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Men's Basketball Non-Conference Shedule
Akron, Ohio – After finishing the 2016 BTC Summer of Thunder foreign tour 2-0, the Akron Zips look forward to a tough 13-game non-conference schedule in 2016-17. The Zips 2016-17 campaign features 12 different conferences, highlighted by five teams that won 19 or more games last season, head coach Keith Dambrot announced on Tuesday.
"Our non-conference schedule is balanced," Dambrot said. "It will help us prepare for league play and has the opportunity to create a strong resume for March."
After two scrimmages, the second-annual Coaches vs. Cancer event kicks off the 2016-17 season, this year hosted by Youngstown State at the Beeghly Center Arena. On Saturday, Nov. 12, the Zips are scheduled to play YSU in the second game of a doubleheader, following the opening matchup between Cleveland State and Kent State.
"The Coaches vs. Cancer event is a special event for our program," Dambrot said. "Not only is it a great night of basketball and a great opportunity to increase cancer awareness, but it is another chance to celebrate the legacy of Coach Dan Peters for his time at Youngstown and Akron. He was a great coach and a dear friend."
Next, the Zips are scheduled to host three-consecutive home games, playing six of the first 11 games at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron's home opener is slated for Thursday, Nov. 17, against American University. Last season, the Eagles fell 78-62 in the Patriot League semifinals to Lehigh.
The following two home games are part of the 2016 inaugural Savannah Invitational. On Sunday, Nov. 20, UA opens the Savannah Invitational against Radford at the JAR. The Big South Conference member opened the 2015-16 campaign with a 82-80 double-overtime win over Georgetown before finishing 16-15 overall and 9-9 in league play.
Two days later on Tuesday, Nov. 22, UA will face Georgia Southern of the Sun Belt Conference before departing for the Savannah Civic Center. At the neutral site on Friday, Nov. 25, the Zips will play Air Force of the Mountain West Conference followed by a win/loss scenario for Saturday's (Nov. 26) final tournament game against East Carolina from the American Athletic Conference or Mercer of Southern Conference, who won 19 games a year ago.
On Wednesday, Nov. 30, the Zips return to the JAR to play Adrian, and will be alternating home and away games in December before the 55th annual Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
For the first road game of December, Akron will travel to Omaha, Neb. on Saturday (Dec. 3) for a showdown with Big East Conference member, Creighton at the CenturyLink Center Omaha Arena that averaged nearly 16,000 fans a night last season. The Zips face a Bluejays squad that finished last season with a 94 NCAA RPI rating with 20-15 overall record and 9-9 in Big East play. Creighton advanced to the 2016 NIT Quarterfinal round, defeating Alabama, and Wagner before falling to BYU.
The Zips return to the Rubber City to play Coppin State for a second-straight season at Rhodes Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 7, and back on the road for another big game against a Top 20 opponent in Spokane, Wash.
On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Zips will play Gonzaga at McCarthy Athletic Center. The Bulldogs finished No. 1 on the Mid-Major Top 25 poll and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen round as a No. 11 seed, defeating the No. 6 seed Seton Hall in the round of 64 and the No. 3 seed Utah in the round of 32 before falling to No. 10 seed Syracuse. The Zags finished the season with a 66 NCAA RPI and 28-8 overall record and 15-3 in league play while winning the West Coast Conference tournament championship.
Seven days later, the Zips return to the JAR for the final non-conference home game against Marshall on Saturday, Dec. 17. Last season, Akron traveled to Huntington, W.Va. to battle the Thundering Herd, winning 75-65. Marshall finished last season with a 17-16 overall mark and 12-6 in in Conference USA play while advancing to the semifinal round of the C-USA tournament. The Herd defeated No. 6 UTEP before falling to No. 2 Middle Tennessee.
The Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational concludes the 13-game non-conference schedule. On Wednesday, Dec. 21 the Zips play the Big West Conference's UC Irvine in a neutral site game at UTEP's Don Haskins Center. The Anteaters posted a 66 NCAA RPI with a 28-10 overall record and 13-3 in conference play before falling in the Big West tournament semifinals to Long Beach State and advancing to the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament. At the CIT, UC Irvine defeated North Dakota, Louisiana, and Coastal Carolina to advance to the championship game against Columbia, who won 73-67.
Akron's final non-conference contest is another win/loss scenario at the Sun Bowl Invitational in El Paso, Texas. On Thursday, Dec. 22, the Zips have an opportunity to play the tournament host UTEP Miners (C-USA) or Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (MEAC). The Miners posted 19 wins last season and lost in the second round of the C-USA tournament to Marshall after starting the season 8-0, while the Hawks finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 10-22 overall mark and 7-9 in MEAC play.
2016-17 Akron Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
November 12th - @ YSU (AWAY)
November 17th - vs. American (HOME)
November 20th – vs. Radford, Savannah Event (HOME)
November 22nd – vs. Georgia Southern, Savannah Event (HOME)
November 25th – vs. Air Force, Savannah Event (AWAY)(Neutral Site)
November 26th – vs. East Carolina or Mercer, Savannah Event (AWAY)
November 30th - vs. Adrian (DIII) (HOME)
December 3rd - @ Creighton (AWAY)
December 7th - vs. Coppin St (HOME)
December 10th - @ Gonzaga (AWAY)
December 17th - vs. Marshall (HOME)
December 21st – vs. UC Irvine, Sun Bowl/El Paso Event (AWAY) (Neutral Site)
December 22nd – vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore or UTEP, Sun Bowl Invitational (AWAY)
Season Tickets
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2016-17 campaign, with ticket packages starting at $60 for General Admission to $810/seat for mid court.
Also available is a $175 Alumni All sport plan that includes season tickets for all of our ticketed sports (MBB, WBB, volleyball, football, men's soccer, and women's soccer).
Akron faculty and staff may purchase Upper Reserved season tickets for $175 and Lower Reserved for $260 plus applicable donation. The Zips also offer a family plan allowing two adults and two children season tickets for $210.
Another option is the All-Access 10-pack available for $100 that allows fans 10-undated vouchers which can be redeemed for 10 general admission tickets for any of Akron's ticketed sporting events.
Tickets can be purchased online anytime at GoZips.com/Tickets, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
