The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Mississippi Valley State
Zips Round Out Homestand with Mississippi Valley State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
December 15 | Men's Basketball
Game Notes PDF | Live Stats | ESPN3 | Akron-IMG Sports Network | Season Tickets | Akron Basketball Schedule
Akron Zips (5-2) Mid-American vs Mississippi Valley State (0-9) Southwestern Athletic
Saturday, Dec. 16 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 2 PM ET • ESPN3
Mississippi Valley State Head Coach
Andre Payne (Alabama A&M '97)
Overall Record: 21-87 (4th Season)
Record at MVSU: 260-270 (16th Season)
AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Overall Record: 185-133 (10th Season)
Record at Akron: 5-2 (First Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 0-0 (First Season)
Overall MAC Record: 34-30 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Series Tied: 1-1 |Â Groce vs MVSU: First Meeting
Last Meeting: MVSU 93, Akron 81 | December 4, 1992 at Mississippi Valley State
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN3 – Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jacki Windon (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network - Steve French (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst) WARF 1350 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips
What's Ahead
The Zips are back in action at James A. Rhodes Arena for the final game of a three-game homestand before departing for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Akron looks to improve to 6-0 at Rhodes Arena as they host Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. The game is scheduled to air on ESPN3 as Michael Reghi will call the action and Jacki Windon will provide analysis.
Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats or by Zips' radio. 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 30 minutes prior to the contest. The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
Scouting the Delta Devils
Mississippi Valley State enters the game with a 0-9 overall record. The Delta Devils are looking for their first win, averaging 57.3 points per outing on 38.0 percent shooting from the floor and a 29.9 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 4.9 triples a game.Â
MVSU is led by Dante Scott with 9.7 points per game on 37.0 percent shooting from the field and 29.2 percent rate from beyond the 3-point with a second-best seven made 3-pointers. He is the team leader in free throws made (20) and second on the team in rebounds (42), assists (17), and 3-pointers made (7). Jordan Evans follows with 9.1 points and 35.9 shooting percent from the floor. He connects at a 35.5 percent rate from deep, while leading the squad in 3-point FG made at 11. Tereke Eckwood adds 9.0 points per outing while shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from downtown with seven triples. Leading the efforts on the glass is Emmanuel Ejeh with 6.1 rebounds per game and 55 total boards.
Defensively, MVSU allows its opponents to score 80.o points per game on average with a 50.0 percent shooting effort from the floor and 38.6 percent from 3-point range, allowing 10.1 long distance strikes per night. The Delta Devils have caused 99 turnovers (11.0 to/g) with 42 steals (4.7 stl/g). In addition, MVSU's opponents boast a 7.6 advantage on the glass, 351-283.
The Akron-Mississippi Valley State Series
Saturday's game marks the third meeting in series history between the Zips and the Delta Devils. Akron won the series opener during the 1991-92 season under head coach Coleman Crawford. On Nov. 30, the Zips defeated MVSU 80-65 at Rhodes Arena. The following year, Akron traveled to Mississippi and suffered a 93-81 setback. The two teams have not met since the early nineties.Â
Olojakpoke Earns MAC EAST PLAYER of the WEEK
Sophomore frontcourt player Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) was selected as the MAC East Division Player of the Week after leading Akron to a pair of wins over Fort Wayne (83-79) and Appalachian State (94-89). The Zips improved to 5-2 overall on the season as Olojakpoke poured in 39 points (19.5 pts/g) in 42 minutes played last week. He scored at 77.3 percent rate on 17-of-22 shooting from the field. He connected with 5-of-8 free throws en route to a 62.5 percent performance and grabbed 11 rebounds (5.5 rebs/g), recorded six blocked shots ( 3 blk/g), and added an assist (0.5 ast/g).
In 25 minutes of action, Olojakepoke opened the week with a career-high 24 points, connecting with 76.9 percent (10-of-13) of his shots from the floor. In addition, he added a 4-of-6 effort from the free throw line, seven rebounds, and matched a career-best four blocked shots. Against Appalachian State, Olojakpoke played 17 minutes and dropped 15 points. He shot 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the field, while adding four rebounds and two blocked shots.
E-MAN Shatters Career Mark
Sophomore frontcourt player Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) shattered his career-scoring record against Fort Wayne, pouring in 24 points in 25 minutes of work. E-Man erased his previous game-high scoring effort (11 points) by halftime, tossing in 14 points before the break. He continued to elevate his personal stat sheet by doubling his career field goals made and attempted. He knocked down 10 field goals, six more than his previous high, on 13 shot attempts, seven more than before, for a 77.0 shooting percentage. E-Man also made two more trips to the free throw line, burying career-best four freebies on six attempts. In addition, Olojakpoke tied his career-high blocked shot performance with four denials.
Stepping into the Spotlight
Sophomore guard/wing Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) opened the 2017-18 season as a starter and used the opportunity to lead the Zips to a season-opening win over Cleveland State with a (then) career-high 20 points. He topped that performance in the second game of the season, dropping 32 points and knocking down a career-best eight 3-pointers to lead Akron to a 76-59 win over UT Martin. Utomi notched 10 first-half points in both contests, while scoring a combined 32 second-half points. He netted 10 second-half points versus CSU and an astounding 22 against UT Martin. In the Zips' third game against Dayton, Utomi led the way again by recording a team-high 19 points with five rebounds and three assists. He continued to lead the Zips scoring through the first five games with a 24-point night against Chattanooga and a 15-point outing against Marshall. The last time out against Fort Wayne, Utomi was 1-of-5 Zips to reach double figures, scoring 11 points with a career-best and team-high four steals. Utomi currently leads the team's scoring efforts with 19.9 points per game, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (47-of-94) and 50.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc with a team-best 29 made triples (29-of-57).Â
Currently, Utomi ranks 2nd in the NCAA in 3-pointers per game (4.14), 18th in 3-point FG percentage (.509), 51st in rebounds per game (6.57), 53rd in points per game (19.9), and 64th in 3-point FG made (29).
Leading a Young Crew
The Akron Zips look to veteran leaders junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) and graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ontario) to navigate through the 2017-18 campaign. Ivey, the only returning starter from last year's squad, has played 73 career games for the blue and gold, starting 34 of those contests. He earned a starting role last season and has averaged 10 points per game for two consecutive seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17). In 2017-18, Ivey ranks third in scoring for Akron with 11.4 points per night and second in rebounds 5.6 and assists 3.86 per outing. He notched a double-double against App State with 15 points and 10 assists.
The other seasoned vet on the squad is a transfer from Oregon State. Duvivier played three seasons with the Beavers, accounting for 95 games played with 62 starting appearances. Over that three-year span, he averaged 23.85 minutes per game against some of the best competition in college basketball with 6.56 points, 2.03 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per night. As a sophomore, He scored 10.7 points per game. Only two additional Zips have appeared in more than 30 games for their collegiate careers. In 2017-18, Duvivier averages a second-best 12.4 points with a team-leading 4.3 assists per game (30 assists). Duvivier scored a career-high 24 points against App State.
Groce Debuts with a WIN
Zips' head coach John Groce has spent over two decades on the sidelines of a basketball court as a coach and enters his 10th season as the lead man, but first at Akron. On April 6, 2017, Groce was named the 22nd head coach in Akron Basketball history. For the last six and a half months, Groce has been preparing a young team for the new season. On Nov. 11, Groce and the Zips accomplished something that has only been done 10 times in Akron's history, debuting a coaching career with a win. Akron defeated Cleveland State 67-57 in Groce's Akron coaching debut to become the first coach since the 1984-85 season to win their initial game.
In fact, the last coach to start his Akron career with a win was Bob Huggins during the 1984-85 season against Western Illinois, 64-57. Prior to Huggins, six coaches were unsuccessful in accomplishing that feat since Thomas Dowler did so in 1939-40 against Franklin, 34-25.
Utomi Earns MAC EAST PLAYER of the WEEK
Daniel Utomi earned Mid-American East Division Player of the Week honors on November 20 for his career-high performance against UT Martin. Utomi led Akron to its second straight victory of the season on Saturday with a 76-59 win over UT Martin and shattered his career-high scoring record in the process. Utomi recorded a personal best 32 points against the Skyhawks, connecting with a career-high eight 3-pointers. He buried 68.8 percent of his shots from the floor (11-of-16), including a 72.7 percent effort from downtown (8-of-11). Utomi added a 2-of-3 performance from the free throw line along with five rebounds and three assists.
Zips Outlast Mountaineers in Weather Delayed Game, 94-89
The Akron Zips fell behind early and for the second straight game, they roared back for a high-scoring win, downing the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers 94-89. Akron used a 12-3 run from the 4:32 mark of the second half to seize back control of the game until a 3-pointer by Appalachian State's Tyrell Johnson snapped the run and made the score 88-82 with 46.5 seconds remaining. After rallying from a 79-76 deficit, the Zips then held off the Mountaineers down the stretch despite losing two starters to fouls late in the game.
Graduate transfer guard Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Canada) led Akron with a career-high 24 points, including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers. The Akron offense was again a balanced attack, with all five starters scoring eight or more points for the second game in a row. As a team, Akron shot 56.7 percent (34-of-60) from the field and 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from long range in a winning effort.
Sophomore guard Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) posted his second double-double of his career and season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) also notched a double-double on 15 points and 10 assists. Sophomore forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) tallied 15 for the hosts, who shot 18-of-30 from the field, including 8-of-12 on 3-pointers in the opening half as good ball moment and a fast pace led to a 47-38 Zips lead at the break.
Akron shot the ball exceptionally well in the first 20 minutes as Duvivier made 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for an early 13 points. As a team, the Zips had assists on 17 of their 18 baskets prior the break. Ivey was a pinpoint passer, dishing out seven assists in the first half and finishing with a career-best 10 dimes in the win.
Early foul trouble plagued Olojakpoke (three fouls) and freshman guard Eric Parrish (two) in the first 20 minutes, but solid play off the bench by freshman forward Jayden Sales (Cincinnati, Ohio) and freshman guard Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisc.) kept the Zips on pace.
Olojakpoke eventually fouled out with 2:40 remaining in the game, but not before grabbing four rebounds and blocking two shots. Ivey fouled out two minutes later, leaving Akron without two of its veteran leaders in the final minute.
The contest was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but was delayed by five hours due to travel problems Appalachian State faced with a winter storm that moved through North Carolina over the past two days.
Still, the visitors showed no signs of travel fatigue as they burst out to a 12-4 lead as Griffin Kinney (25 points) and Ronshad Shabazz (26 points) split their team's first 12 points evenly. The duo led the visitors in scoring and combined for 51 of their team's 89 points.
Akron battled back from its early deficit behind Duvivier and Ivey, taking its first lead since the game's opening minute when freshman guard Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) converted a layup at the 11:59 mark, staking the Zips to a 15-14 edge they maintained for all but 18 seconds of the half.
Fort Wayne Recap
Behind a balanced offensive attack and solid marksmanship from beyond the arc, the Akron Zips overcame a slow start to hold off Fort Wayne 83-79 Wednesday night in a non-league contest at James A. Rhodes Arena. Sophomore forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) tallied a career-best 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting in the win, along with seven rebounds and four blocks. Using his jump hook, Olojakpoke helped Akron close the first half strong - scoring 14 in the opening frame - and blocked three shots before intermission to steady the Zips on defense.
Six players scored eight points or more for Akron (4-2), which led throughout the second half and fended off multiple challenges from the visitors, who were led by John Konchar (23 points) and Kason Harrell (19 points). Zips' junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio - 12 points), sophomore guard Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas - 11 points), freshman guard Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas - 11 points) and freshman guard Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisc. – career-high 10 points) all reached double digits.
Fort Wayne closed to within four points multiple times in the second half and narrowed the margin to two with 28.4 seconds remaining thanks to a deep triple from Harrell to make the score 81-79. Following the made shot, Parrish made one of two free throws and Ivey did the same to provide the final margin of victory.
The Zips started the game slow, falling behind by as many as six in the first half as the Mastodons hit 6 of 12 from 3-point range in the first 12 minutes of the contest. Turnovers helped Akron keep it close, as the defense turned Fort Wayne over six times during that span, accounting for 10 of the Zips' first 20 points. Cotton provided the Akron offense with a boost off the bench, sinking two from long range to rally his team from a six-point deficit to a 26-all tie with 7:41 remaining before the half. Cotton's pair of triples were part of a 16-2 run that eventually put the Zips ahead 36-28, their largest lead of the opening stanza to that point.
Missed free throws kept the game close throughout, as Akron converted just 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) from the charity stripe. Turnovers also impeded Akron's offense, as 14 miscues slowed its scoring pace, especially in the second half. Ultimately, the Zips were able to overcome those turnovers thanks to their long-range shooting and a 40-28 rebounding edge that helped them to a 38-24 advantage on points in the paint. On the night, Akron shot 41.7 percent (10 of 24) from long range.
Marshall Recap
The Akron Zips men's basketball team fell 86-64 to Marshall as The Herd remained unbeaten at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, W.Va. With the win, The Herd improved to 5-3 with all five wins coming on their home floor. Akron fell to 3-2 overall, and still remain unbeaten at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron had three players score in double figures, paced by sophomore wing Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) with 15 points. Utomi shot 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, knocking down four 3-pointers while grabbing a team-best eight rebounds. Sophomore front court Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) and Graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ontario) followed with 13 and 11 points, respectively. In addition, freshman wing Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) made his first collegiate start and scored the first bucket of the game as he set up his own fast break after stealing Marshall's initial pass.
The Herd's Ajdin Penava quickly responded with a layup to tie the game, scoring his first two points of a double-double that included 20 points and 13 rebounds. The Zips only held one more lead, 6-5, after junior wing Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) cashed in with a midrange jumper at 16:44 in the first half. Marshall's leading scorer, Jon Elmore, scored five of The Herd's initial seven points and finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting with three triples and a 5-of-5 effort from the charity stripe. C.J. Burks also poured in 20 points, as his 3-pointer at the 12:22 mark sparked a 13-0 run, establishing a 24-10 advantage for the home team. Duvivier stopped The Herd's run with a long strike from deep, but another 7-0 run extended Marshall's lead to 20 points, 39-19, with 3:39 remaining in the first half.
The Zips cut the deficit to 13 points several times, but a big play from one of Marshall's 20-point scorers tended to follow. Marshall extended the lead to as many as 23 points, 83-60, before Ivey recorded the Zips' final four points. The game ended with Elmore connecting with his third triple of the night with 1:18 remaining in the game. Ivey finished with nine points and six rebounds.
Chattanooga Recap
Senior guard Daniel Utomi scored 24 points, including five straight points late in the contest to push Akron's lead from four points to nine with 1:50 remaining, and made a key steal to help seal a 75-70 win for the Zips over visiting Chattanooga Tuesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena. Utomi, who also registered his first career double-double with 13 rebounds, sank a clutch 3-pointer with 30 seconds left, pushing the Zips (3-1) to a 75-69 lead after the Mocs closed to within three, giving Akron valuable breathing room in the final minute. Utomi's late-game heroics came in a stretch in which he scored 12 points in the final three minutes of the game.
With the Mocs (3-4) having closed to within four at 67-63, Utomi sank two free throws with 2:27 left, then made a steal on defense and converted a conventional three-point play at the other end to give the Zips some breathing room. Graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ontario) added 15 points, including 13 of his team's first 25, as Akron built a large early lead and junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) chipped in with 15 for the Zips, who also outrebounded Chattanooga 31-24.
After tailing by 11 at the half, Chattanooga closed to within four at 51-47 with 10:48 remaining in the game on a 3-pointer by Nat Dixon, but Akron responded with a layup by Utomi and a 3-pointer by freshman guard Eric Parrish (Cypress, Texas) to push the lead back to nine. Parrish added a team-best five steals. The game remained close throughout the second half as Chattanooga was able to capitalize on being in the bonus for much of the frame, hitting 9-of-13 from the charity stripe in the second period.Â
Both teams struggled with turnovers throughout the contest, with Chattanooga committing 18 miscues and the Zips tallying 17.
Akron trailed only briefly in the game, with Chattanooga seizing an early one-point lead as both teams struggled offensively in the early stages. After the Mocs took a 11-10 lead with 13:06 remaining in the opening stanza, the Zips scored 12 straight as Duvivier rattled off 10 straight, including two 3-pointers, and freshman guard Virshon Cotton (Milwaukee, Wisc.) punctuated the run with a layup to extend the Akron lead to 22-11. The Zips would extend the lead to as many as 16 (35-19) in the first half and shot 50 percent or better from the field, 3-point line and free throw line in the first 20 minutes. They also forced 10 Chattanooga turnovers before the half and outrebounded the Mocs 18-11 during the period. Rodney Chatman led Chattanooga with 19 points, while Dixon contributed 16 in the loss.
UP NEXT
On Dec. 19, the Zips will depart for three games at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The eight team tournament spans four days as Akron opens against USC on Friday, Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET at the Stan Sheriff Center.
