Zips Open Cayman Islands Classic Against No. 19 Clemson

Monday, November 19

Cayman Islands

11:00 am

University of Akron

Clemson

Tickets

Zips Open Cayman Islands Classic Against No. 19 Clemson

November 18 | Men's Basketball

Game 4 • CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC
Akron Zips (3-0) MAC vs. No. 19 Clemson (3-0) ACC
Monday, Nov. 19 • John Gray Gymnasium • Grand Cayman Island • 11 AM ET • Facebook Live

Clemson Head Coach
Brad Brownell (DePauw, '91)
Overall: 319-198 (17 seasons)
Record at Clemson: 152-113 (9th season)
ACC Record: 168-114 (9th season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 197-149 (11th Season)
Record at Akron: 17-18 (2nd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 6-12 (2nd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 40-42 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Clemson leads series, 1-0 Groce vs Clemson: 0-1 | Last Meeting: Clemson, 66 - Akron 59 at San Juan Shootout (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), Dec. 21, 2005

Broadcast
TV/Video: FACEBOOK – Noah Coslov (PxP), Doug Gottlieb (Analyst) and Kristen Balboni (Sideline)
Watch on: Facebook.com/StadiumCollegeBasketball
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network - Steve French (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst)

What's Ahead
The The Akron men's basketball program continues its 118th season of non-conference hoops by entering tournament play at the second annual Cayman Islands Classic. Eight teams will compete in the tournament held on Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 19-21, at John Gray Gymnasium, just minutes away from world famous Seven Mile Beach.

Akron will face Clemson in the opening game at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time followed by Georgia and Illinois State at 1:30 p.m. The first game of the evening session features St. Bonaventure and Georgia State at 5 p.m. followed by Boise State and Creighton, whom will conclude opening-day action at 7:30 p.m.

Semifinal round games are slated for 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. the following day, Tuesday, Nov. 20. The first-round team with a loss will compete in their second game Nov. 20 with tip-offs at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The seventh-place game will open the final day of competition on Wednesday, Nov. 21 starting at 11 a.m., followed by the fifth-place game (1:30 p.m.), third-place game (5 p.m.) and title game (7:30 p.m.) to crown the Cayman Islands Classic champion.

The Broadcasts
All of the Cayman Island Classic games are scheduled to air exclusively on Facebook! Fans can find direct links for the Zips broadcast by visiting GoZips.com, the ZipsMBB Facebook page or @ZipsMBB on twitter. Also, Facebook.com/StadiumCollegeBasketball will provide all of the action.

Noah Coslov will call the action and Doug Gottlieb delivers analysis with Kristen Balboni reporting courtside for Stadium (watchstadium.com).

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-Clemson Series
During the 2005-06 season, Akron and Clemson played for the San Juan Shootout championship in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Clemson triumphed with a 66-59 victory. Akron is 0-1 all-time against Clemson. In addition, head coach John Groce faced the Tigers while at Illinois during the second round of the 2014 National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Fighting Illini fell 50-49 at the buzzer. Groce is 0-1 all-time against Clemson.

Scouting the Tigers
Clemson is currently ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coach's Poll behind a 3-0 start to the season. Under the guidance of coach Brad Brownell, was ranked No. 15 in the final 2017-18 USA Today coaches poll while tying a school record with a 25-10 mark advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997. This season, the Tigers have defeated The Citadel (100-80), North Carolina Central (71-51) and Sam Houston State (74-59).

The Tigers return 4-of-5 starters from last season's Sweet 16 game against Kansas in Marcquise Reed, Shelton Mitchell, David Skara and Elijah Thomas. Reed is leading the team in scoring, averaging 17.3 ppg on 44.7 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from deep with six made 3-pointers. He also pulls down a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game with 22 on the season. Mitchell adds 13.3 points and has also drained six 3-pointers at a 35.3 percent rate. Skara and Thomas contribute 10.3 and 8.0 points, respectively. The fifth member of the starting cast, Aami Simms, is a threat from deep, knocking down a team-best seven triples on eight attempts for an 87.5 shooting percentage from downtown.

Defensively, Clemson has limited its opponent to scoring 63.3 points per game on 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 31.9 percent from downtown with 7.3 made 3-pt FGs per game. The Tigers have caused 42 turnovers (14 tpg) while collecting 22 steals (7.3 stl/g) and 16 blocked shots (5.3 blk/g). On the glass, Clemson outrebounds the opponent by a +5.0 margin, grabbing 107 total boards while giving up 92 to the opposition.

Georgia and Illinois State vs Akron
On Monday Nov. 19, Georgia and Illinois State are scheduled to play game two of the Cayman Islands Basketball Classic at 1:30 p.m., on one of those teams will be Akron's second opponent. If Georgia and Akron share the court for the second-round game it will be the first meeting in series history between the Zips and the Bulldogs.

However, the Akron against Illinois State scenario would be the ninth meeting between the two teams, but first since the 1999-2000 season. The Zips and the Redbirds series began during the 1969-70 season. The Zips won the first meeting 83-60 in Akron, but the Redbirds own a 6-2 all-time advantage. Akron won the last outing as Illinois State 89-79 at James A. Rhodes Arena to snap the Redbirds six-game winning streak. Illinois State claimed wins during the 1970-71 (at Illinois, 99-88), 1975-76 (at Illinois, 88-69), 1976-77 (in Akron, 91-85), 1977-78 (at Illinois, 86-70), 1986-87 (in the NIT at Illinois, 79-72) and 1998-99 (at Illinois, 84-69) seasons.

Like Money in the Bank
Junior college transfer Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.) has scored in double digits 2-of-3 games this season and is currently third on the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game. He is shooting a team-best 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from long distance. Those nine made 3-point field goals ranks as theteam leader as Dan Utomi and Loren Cristian Jackson follow with seven 3-pointers each.

Banks buried 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc in Akron's season/home opener against Cedarville, went 2-of-4 against YSU, and 3-of-4. He led the squad in scoring with 15 points (Cedarville) and 17 points (Chicago State).

Five Players Score Double Figures
Five Zips reached double digits in scoringagainst Youngstown State as junior Daniel Utomi led all scorers with 25 points, shooting 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the floor and 50.0 percent from downtown (2-of-4). He added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot to his stat sheet. Senior Jimond Ivey followed with 18 points and five rebounds, while newcomers sophomore Loren Cristian Jackson, junior Deng Riak and junior Tyler Cheese all turned in career-high performances. Jackson posted a career-high 16 points and Riak reached career-best 14 points and rebounds (7). Cheese collected 13 points, a personal best, and tied his four assist best effort.

Olojakpoke Returns to Action
After having his 2017-18 campaign cut short due to season ending heart surgery, junior frontcourt specialist Emmanuel Olojakpoke returned to action. EMan played 13 minutes in Akron's season opener, scoring two points while causing havoc in the paint. Olojakpoke grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots and had one steal.

Senior Leader Opens Season with a Double-Double
Senior guard/wing Jimond Ivey started the season off right by recording a double-double in Akron's first appearance of the season. Ivey scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He lead the Zips on the glass, pulling down 10 defensive rebounds and grabbing one offensive board. From the floor, Ivey used a 4-of-6 performance from the floor and a 4-of-6 showing from the free throw line for the 12 points.

Loren Cristian Jackson Did Not Miss a Beat
Transfer guard Loren Cristian Jackson didn't show any signs of rust as sophomore transfer from Long Beach State led the Zips offense and was second in scoring in the opener. He tallied 14 points in the 70-50 win over Cedarville. HE grabbed a second best seven rebounds while dishing out two assists. Jackson connected with four long range buckets on seven attempts for a 57.1 percent showing from beyond the arc.

Starting the Season Off Right
The Zips are 72-46 (.610) all-time in season openers with a 58-12 (.829) home record and 14-34 (.292) on the road. Since the 2004-05, UA is 10-5 (.667) when opening the season, standing 7-1 (.875) at home, 3-4 (.429) on the road and 2-0 (1.000) under head coach John Groce. In addition, Akron owns a 97-21 (.822) home-opening record and 32-4 (.888) at Rhodes Arena. The Zips have been winners in the last 17-of-18 home opening games. Akron is 18-8 in MAC openers, 10-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 15 seasons, the Zips are 11-4 in MAC openers and 7-1 at home. Akron has won the last 7-of-8 MAC openers.

Best Start to a Season
The 2015-16 Akron Zips started the season with a 3-0 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. In addition, the 13-2 start was the best opening to a season in Akron basketball's Division I era, while the Zips win over the Arkansas Razorbacks marked the fifth consecutive season the Zips posted a win over a Power Five Conference opponent.

The LeBron James Shoe Deal and Nike Apparel
Since June 2008, the Akron men's basketball program has been partnered with Nike under which the Zips' shoes, game uniforms, warm ups and accessories are licensed under the Nike and LeBron James Trademarks.

The Zips are just one of three college programs in the country that are partnered with the LBJ line of Nike equipment, the others are Ohio State and Duquesne. Akron rocks six pairs of LBJ kicks in three different styles all customized to Akron Basketball.

The Akron Zips men's basketball team has six different uniforms, including four new looks for the 2018-19 season. Akron will continue to sport the grey set of uniforms modeled after the Team USA uniforms, which were new for 2017-18. The Grey uniforms feature the script Akron on the chest in blue outlined in the university gold. The numbers are depicted the same way which matches the blue piping that outlines the uniform. The shorts feature the Z-logo on both sides of the leg and are piped with the blue. Akron also had a new set of purple se uniforms last season that are worn as a tribute to former coach and director of operations Dan Peters.

For 2018-19, the Zips will showcase new home and away, whites and blues, with combinations that brings back the gold. Both sets feature the script Akron across the chest in gold with the white set accented by blue outlines and piping, while the blues are outlined in white.The pants feature the Z-Logo on one leg and script Akron on the opposite side. Also, the Roo-Head debuts on the waistband.Speaking of Gold, Akron's "Gold Standard" uniforms are back. Yes, Akron will be rockin gold uniforms once again. The Team USA inspired uniforms feature the script Akron in blue across the chest with the Roo-Head on the sides of the shorts. The waistband features the Z-Logo.

The final uniform is a Fear The Roo uniform that is anthracite (dark grey) as the base color. Those are all the details we can divulge at this time.

UP NEXT
Round two games for thel Cayman Islands Classic Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 20 at at either 11 a.m. (game 5) or 1:30 p.m. (game 6). Fans can follow the action live on GoZips.com via live stats, Zips radio network or Facebook live.