The University of Akron Athletics
Akron-Kent State Rivalry Game Selected for ESPNU
January 17 | Men's Basketball
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Cleveland, Ohio – ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, selected the 151st meeting in the storied men's basketball rivalry between Akron and Kent State as the Mid-American Conference wildcard game, the league announced on Thursday.
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The first installment of the 2018-19 Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge game moved from its original Saturday date to be aired on ESPNU on Friday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.
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The date and time change marks the first MAC wildcard selection for the Zips and first game for Akron to appear in front of a nationally televised audience this season. The Zips are currently 10-7 overall with a 2-2 MAC record.
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The Akron/Kent State series began during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win, 37-16. Kent State owns a 76-74 all-time series advantage. However, the Zips have won 13 of the last 21 meetings, including the last time out at Rhodes Arena, 67-65, on March 2, 2018. Akron is 41-24 against Kent State at home, posting wins in six of the last eight games at the JAR. Akron is 25-50 on the road and 8-2 in neutral site games.
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Kent won the two previous contests, 78-68, at the M.A.C Center in Kent on Feb. 17, 2018, and the 2017 MAC Championship game, 70-65, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on March 11, 2017.
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In the first meeting of 2016-17, the Golden Flashes snapped Akron's home-court winning streak at 30 games. The longest winning streak in the series for Akron is nine games from 1941-1947 and Kent State's longest winning streak in the series is five games, and it happened twice, 1991-1994, and 1980-1985.
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Akron and Kent State have met in the MAC Tournament eight times. Akron is 5-3 in the MAC Tournament against the Golden Flashes. In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship three times. Kent State leads 2-1 in MAC title games. Kent State won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron won the title in 2010-11 in overtime (66-65), and Kent State won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65).
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Akron's last victory at the M.A.C. Center was March 3, 2017 as the Zips defeated the Golden Flashes 66-56 on Senior Night.
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Akron men's basketball continues the 27th season of Mid-American Conference play on the road against the Miami RedHawks on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. The Zips look to snap the RedHawks three-game winning streak in the series, while Miami strives to earn their first league win. The game scheduled to be aired on ESPN3 and Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) with Steve French calling the action and Joe Dunn providing analysis. The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
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Cleveland, Ohio – ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, selected the 151st meeting in the storied men's basketball rivalry between Akron and Kent State as the Mid-American Conference wildcard game, the league announced on Thursday.
Â
The first installment of the 2018-19 Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge game moved from its original Saturday date to be aired on ESPNU on Friday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.
Â
The date and time change marks the first MAC wildcard selection for the Zips and first game for Akron to appear in front of a nationally televised audience this season. The Zips are currently 10-7 overall with a 2-2 MAC record.
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The Akron/Kent State series began during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win, 37-16. Kent State owns a 76-74 all-time series advantage. However, the Zips have won 13 of the last 21 meetings, including the last time out at Rhodes Arena, 67-65, on March 2, 2018. Akron is 41-24 against Kent State at home, posting wins in six of the last eight games at the JAR. Akron is 25-50 on the road and 8-2 in neutral site games.
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Kent won the two previous contests, 78-68, at the M.A.C Center in Kent on Feb. 17, 2018, and the 2017 MAC Championship game, 70-65, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on March 11, 2017.
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In the first meeting of 2016-17, the Golden Flashes snapped Akron's home-court winning streak at 30 games. The longest winning streak in the series for Akron is nine games from 1941-1947 and Kent State's longest winning streak in the series is five games, and it happened twice, 1991-1994, and 1980-1985.
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Akron and Kent State have met in the MAC Tournament eight times. Akron is 5-3 in the MAC Tournament against the Golden Flashes. In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship three times. Kent State leads 2-1 in MAC title games. Kent State won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron won the title in 2010-11 in overtime (66-65), and Kent State won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65).
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Akron's last victory at the M.A.C. Center was March 3, 2017 as the Zips defeated the Golden Flashes 66-56 on Senior Night.
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Akron men's basketball continues the 27th season of Mid-American Conference play on the road against the Miami RedHawks on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. The Zips look to snap the RedHawks three-game winning streak in the series, while Miami strives to earn their first league win. The game scheduled to be aired on ESPN3 and Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) with Steve French calling the action and Joe Dunn providing analysis. The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.
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