The University of Akron Athletics
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Akron Opens Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Against USC
December 21 | Men's Basketball
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Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic • Tournament Brackets: Eastern Standard Time | Hawaiian Time
Akron Zips (6-2) Mid-American vs Southern California (6-4) Pac-12
Friday, Dec. 22 • Stan Sheriff Center • Honolulu, Hawaii • 7:30 PM ET • ESPNU
Southern California Head Coach
Andy Enfield (Johns Hopkins '91)
Overall Record: 76-68 (5th Season)
Record at USC: 117-96 (7th Season)
AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce(Taylor '94)
Overall Record: 186-133 (10th Season)
Record at Akron: 6-2 (First Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 0-0 (First Season)
Overall MAC Record: 34-30 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Series Tied: 1-0 Groce vs USC: 1-0
Last Meeting: Akron 66, USC 46 - Nov. 20, 2014 at the Gildan Charleston Classic (TD Arena | Charleston, S.C.)
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPNU – Kanoa Leahey (PxP) and Brooke Weisbrod (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 Akron Zips face their biggest challenge of the season, playing Southern California in the opening game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Zips look to improve to 7-2 on the season in their all-time second meeting against USC on Friday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. The game is scheduled to air on ESPNU as Kanoa Leahey will call the action and Brooke Weisbrod will provide analysis.Â
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.
The Akron-USC Series
Friday's game marks the second meeting in series history between the Zips and Trojans. Akron won the previous meeting during the 2014-15 season, 66-46, at the Gildan Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. Zips' head coach John Groce is also 1-0 against USC, defeating the Trojans 94-64 in 2012-13 with Illinois in Maui.
Scouting the Trojans
USC enters the game with a 6-4 overall record. The Trojans are coming off a 103-93 overtime loss to Princeton. USC opened the season with four straight wins over CSF, North Dakota State, Vanderbilt, and Lehigh. The Trojans suffered a three-game dip to Texas A&M, SMU, and Oklahoma. USC bounced back with two wins over Santa Clara and Santa Barbara. The Trojans average 81.0 points per outing on 45.6 percent shooting from the floor with a 38.5 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.9 triples a game.Â
USC has four players scoring in double figures with five players doing most of the heavy lifting. Chimezie Metu leads the squad in points per game (18.5) and blocked shots (17) while owning a share the team-best on the glass (8.3) each game. He shoots a team-best 53.3 percent from the floor with 72 made FG and six from deep for 50.0 percent effort. Bennie Boatwright, is second in scoring (15.4) and blocked shots (12) and shares the rebounding lead per game with Metu. Boatwright has knocked down 15 triples and shoots 40.6 percent from the floor with 41 field goals. Jordan McGlaughlin leads the team in assists (81) while averaging a third-best 14.4 points per night. He is a threat from deep, shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the 3-point arc with 19 made 3-pointers. Elijah Stewart is the team leader from long distance with 24 made 3-pointers while shooting 41.4 percent from distance. Jonah Matthews adds 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game.
Defensively, USC limits its opponents to 74.0 points per game with a 42.2 shooting percentage from the floor and 35.6 percent from 3-point range, allowing 9.3 long distance strikes per night. The Trojans have caused 124 turnovers (12.4 to/g) with 48 steals (4.8 stl/g). In addition, USC's boasts a 6.2 advantage on the glass, 409-347.
Akron vs the Pac-12
Akron is 3-3 all-time against the current Pac-12 members. The Zips have won two of the last three meetings against Pac-12 opponents, including two consecutive wins. Akron posted wins over Oregon State (83-71) in 2013-14 and USC (66-46) in 2014-15. Akron lost to Cal (89-75) in 2005-06, while the three previous meetings were before Akron was a Division I member. In the 1950's Akron split a series with Arizona State (1-1) and Akron fell to Washington State in 1940.
The Zips in Hawaii
Akron is 2-6 all-time in Hawaii as the Zips make their second appearance at the Diamond Head Classic. Akron made two previous trips to Hawaii. In 1991-92, Akron went 0-2 at the Hawaiian Pre-Holiday Tournament, falling to Detroit (55-54) and Idaho State (93-87). During the 2001-02 season, the Zips went 1-2 in the Hawaiian Pacific Thanksgiving Classic, posting a win over Liberty (90-56) after falling to Monmouth (64-61) and Hampton (67-59). In 2013-14, Akron posted a 1-2 record at its first appearance in the Diamond Head Classic, defeating Oregon State (83-71) in the opener before falling to Iowa State (83-60) and South Carolina (69-59).
Regular Season Tournaments
Akron is 60-35, 39-28 in the Division I era (since 1980) in regular season tournaments. Akron has posted multiple wins in 11 of the last 12 in-season tournaments, including three championships. The Zips won two tournaments last season, the Savannah Invitational (4-0) and Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (2-0). In 2015-16, Akron went 2-0 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic to claim the title. In 2014-15, Akron posted a 2-1 record in the Gildan Charleston Classic following the previous tournament runs at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (2012, 2-1), 2K Sports Classic (2011, 2-2), the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic (2010, 3-1), the Glenn Wilkes Classic (2009, 2-2), the Legends Classic (2008, 2-2), the Top of the World Classic (2007, 2-1) and the San Juan Shootout (2005, 2-1).
Last Time Out Against USC
On Nov. 20, 2014, the Akron Zips posted a 66-46 win over Southern California in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Gildan Charleston Classic at TD Arena.Â
The Zips shot 40.0 percent from the field (24-of-60) and 29.6 percent from long range (8-of-27). Akron recorded 14 assists to just 12 turnovers, and won the battle of the boards, 41-39. Pat Forsythe and Kwan Cheatham, Jr. scored 15 points each to lead the Zips, while Noah Robotham added 14 points. USC shot just 28.3 percent from the floor (15-of-53) and 16.7 percent from behind the arc (2-of-12). Nikola Jovanovic led the Trojans with 11 points.
The Zips opened the game with an early 8-2 lead, and after trading a few buckets with USC, Akron used an 8-0 run to force the Trojans to burn a time out with 13:36 left in the first half. Akron led 18-9. The Zips kept the pressure on USC, leading by 10 points (30-20) at the final media timeout. The Zip' lead would reach 14 (36-22) in the final seconds of the half before Akron headed to the locker room with a 36-24 advantage.
The Zips pushed their advantage to 43-28 just 3:25 into the second half. The Trojans used a 10-0 to cut the Akron advantage to 47-40 with 10:00 remaining in the game. However, Akron responded with an 8-0 run of his own, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to give the Zips a 55-40 lead at the under-8 media timeout (6:15). The Zips' lead would grow to as many as 21 (65-44) with 1:06 to go.Â
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. 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. 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. He followed with an 18-point performance against App State, and led the Zips offense the last time out against Mississippi Valley State (23 points). Utomi currently leads the team's scoring efforts with 20.3 points per game, shooting 50.9 percent from the floor (54-of-106) and 50.0 percent from beyond the 3-point arc with a team-best 32 made triples (32-of-64).Â
Currently, Utomi ranks 3rd in the NCAA in 3-pointers per game (4.00), 15th in 3-point FG percentage (.500), 45th in points per game (20.3), 46th in defensive rebounds per game (6.63), and 64th in 3-point FG made (32).
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.
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 Wrap-Up Homestand with a Win,Â
Playing at home for the last time for the next 13 days, the Akron Zips (6-2) made the most of their homecourt edge, bursting from the starting gate and defeating visiting Mississippi Valley State 81-63 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Sophomore guard Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) tallied a game-high 23 points and added seven rebounds as four players scored in double figures while Akron outrebounded the Devils 43-32. Graduate transfer Malcolm Duvivier (Toronto, Ontario) followed with 14 points for the Zips, while junior guard Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) and sophomore forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) added 11 points in the win. Olojakpoke led the Zips on the glass with nine rebounds.
The Zips led by as many as 22 and never saw their lead dip below double digits after the 12:22 mark of the first half. Akron trailed for just 1:44 on the clock and took the lead for good on a layup by Utomi with 16:29 remaining in the first half. With Ivey spearheading an early long-range shooting barrage, the hosts made 5-of-9 from 3-point range in the game's first 10 minutes to build a double-digit lead and were never threatened the rest of the way.
Mississippi Valley State (0-10) tried to slow the Zips using half-court pressure and trapping, but Akron's ball handlers were able to slice through the press and make pinpoint passes that led to a series of easy baskets in the early going.
The lead swelled to as many as 20 before intermission, with Utomi and Ivey combining for 18 in the opening period as Akron shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc (6-of-14). F
For the game, the Zips were 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) from long distance. Defensively, they recorded nine steals, including three each for Utomi and Duvivier, and held Mississippi Valley State to 23-of-63 (36.5 percent) shooting, including just 1-of-12 (8.3 percent) 3-point marksmanship.
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. Â
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. 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 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.
UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to play the second game of the Diamond Head Classic on Saturday, Dec. 23. Game opponent and time depends on the outcome of both first round matchups. The Zips potential second round opponents include Middle Tennesse State or Princeton and game times are either 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. ET at the Stan Sheriff Center.
