Akron Returns to the JAR for Three-Game Homestand

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Akron Zips (1-1) North Carolina Central (1-1)
Friday, Nov. 15 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN3

NC Central Head Coach
LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central '96)
Overall Record: 174-136 (11th Season)
Record at NCCU: 174-136 (11th Season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 212-166 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 32-35 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 14-22 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 48-52 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Series Tied: 1-0 Groce vs. NCCU: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Akron 96, NC Central 49 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 8, 2007
First Meeting: Same
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN3 – Michael Reghi (PxP), Jacki Windon (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats
Radio: Akron Sports Network - Steve French (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst), WARF 1350 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips

What's Ahead
Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for a three-game homestand, starting on Friday, Nov. 15 against North Carolina Central. The homestand continues against South Carolina Upstate (Mon., Nov. 18) and Youngstown State (Thur., Nov. 21). All games are part of the Global Sports Shootout and scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Broadcasts
The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN3 with Michael Reghi calling the action and Jacki Windon providing analysis. The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron 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/AkronZips. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.

Scouting the Eagles
North Carolina Central enters the third game of the season with a 1-1 record, defeating USC Upstate, 73-64, after falling 94-64 to SFA in the season opener. In addition, the Zips lineup against Upstate on Monday.

NCCU returns has three players averaging double-digits after the first two games, led by Randy Miller, Jr. with a team-best 20.5 points per game. He is shooting 72.7 percent from deep, registering 8-of-11 from beyond the 3-point arc. Jibri Blount follows with 13 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He has grabbed a team-high 25 boards, while Ty Graves rounds out the double-figure scorers with 12 points per game. Nicolas Fennel, CJ Keyser and Evan Clayborne add 9.0, 6.0 and 4.5 points per game, respectively.

Defensively, NCCU allows opponents to score 79.0 points a night on 46.8 percent shooting from the floor and 37.5 percent from 3-point range, permitting 9.0 long distance strikes per night. The Eagles cause 38 turnovers (19.0 to/g) with 16 steals (8.0 stl/g). NCCU outrebounds the opponent by a +1.5 margin as the opponent grabs 31.5 rebounds per game compared to their 33.0 boards per game.

The Akron-NC Central Series
Friday's game marks the second meeting in series history between Akron and NC Central. Akron won the lone meeting on Dec. 8, 2007 at James A. Rhodes Arena, 96-49. It stands as the first time head coach John Groce has played NCCU.

UP NEXT
Akron continues its homestand at James A. Rhodes Arena on Monday, Nov. 18 against South Carolina Upstate. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off on ESPN+. The final game of the three-game run is against Youngstown State on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. All three games are part of the Global Sports Shootout.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Returns to the JAR for Three-Game Homestand

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