Akron Returns to the JAR on Black Friday

Friday, November 29

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Merrimack

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November 28 | Men's Basketball

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Akron Zips (4-2) vs Merrimack (5-3)
Friday, Nov. 29 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7 PM

Merrimack Head Coach
Joe Gallo (Merrimack '04)
Overall Record: 66-37 (3rd Season)
Record at Merrimack: same (5-3 Division I)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 215-167 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 35-36 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 14-22 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 48-52 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
First Meeting in Series History - Groce vs MC: First Meeting

Broadcast
TV/Video: No TV or Stream
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
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena for a non-conference tilt against Merrimack on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Akron is 4-2 overall this season with an unblemished 4-0 record at Rhodes Arena. The Zips are currently riding a six-game home winning streak, dating back to the final two home games of 2018-19.

The Broadcasts
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 Warriors
Merrimack enters the game with a 5-3 record in its first year of Division I competition. The Warriors defeated Big Ten Northwestern 71-61on the road for their first win. Merrimack averages 65.4 points per outing on 40.9 percent (186-of-455) shooting from the floor and a 31.9 percent (73-of-229) effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 9.1 triples a game.

The Warriors have two players scoring in double figures led by Jaleel Lord with 11.4 points per game on 53.4 percent (28-of-79) shooting from the field and 30.4 percent (17-of-56) from deep. His 17 3-point field goals per game is tied for the team high.

Juvaris Hayes follows with 10.3 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting (28-of-56), and dishes out team-best 5.8 assists and grabs a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game (46 assists and 46 rebounds). Devin Jensen and Jordan Minor add 8.5 and 8.3 points per night, respectively. Jensen is tied for most 3-point field goals with 17 and shoots 40.5 percent from deep (17-of-42).

Defensively, Merrimack limits its opponents to scoring 58.6 points per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the floor and 27.1 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 4.5 long distance strikes per night. The Warriors caused 145 turnovers (18.1 to/g) with 91 steals (11.4 stl/g). The Warriors are outrebounded the opponent by a +8.0 margin as the opponent to grabbed 304 total boards (38.0 reb/g) compared to the 240 total rebounds (30.0 reb/g) secured.

The Akron-Merrimack Series
Friday's matchup marks the first meeting in series history between Akron and Merrimack, and first for a Groce coached squad. However, the two team have some history as Akron assistant coach Robby Pridgen and Merrimack head coach Joe Gallo served on the same coaching staff at Robert Morris. Pridgen spent eight seasons as an assistant with the Colonials (2009-2017) and Gallo was a member of the RMU staff for four seasons (2012-2016).

Defending the JAR
Akron is 4-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and is riding a six-game home court winning streak, dating back to the 2018-19 season. Last year, Akron posted a 91-67 win over Bowling Green on senior night and hosted the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, defeating No. 9 Miami 80-51. This season Akron has four wins at the JAR over Malone (81-64), NC Central (57-47), USC Upstate (76-45) and Youngstown State (82-60).

The Zips only allow opponents to score 54.0 points per game at home on 31.8 percent shooting from the field (82-of-258) and 25.4 percent from deep (18-of-71). Akron has allowed 216 total points in four games – 64 points was the most for the opposition at Rhodes Arena this season. In fact, Akron has held three teams to 60 points or less, including two teams to 50 or less.

2020 Vision
The Zips have seen four 20-point scoring performances this season, including two 20-point performances by Tyler Cheese. Cheese posted 20 points against N.C. Central and at No.2 Louisville. Loren Cristian Jackson also notched 20 points against the Cardinals while Xeyrius Williams was the first to record 20 points at WVU. In addition, the Zips have had three 19-point efforts by Williams (N.C. Central), Cheese (YSU) and Jackson (YSU).

Zips' Scoring in Bunches
The Zips have four players averaging double figures in scoring led by Tyler Cheese with 16.0 points per game followed by Loren Cristian Jackson (15.8), Xeyrius Williams (13.0) and Channel Banks (12.0). Over the first six games, the Akron Zips have seen at least three players score in double digits per game. Akron had five double-figure scorers against Malone (Williams 17, Banks 15, Cheese 15, Reece 13 and Jackson 12), four against West Virginia (Williams 20, Banks 16, Jackson 16 and Cheese 15) and YSU (Cheese 19, Jackson 19, Banks 12 and Reece 10) and three against N.C. Central (Cheese 20, Williams 19 and Jackson 10), USC Upstate (Jackson 18, Tribble 11, Reece 10) and No.2 Louisville (Cheese 20, Jackson 20 and Banks 18).

Pass the Cheese
Senior Tyler Cheese currently leads the Zips scoring efforts, averaging 16.0 points per game. He registered double-digit points in 4-of-6 games with a season high 20 points against NC Central and No.2 Louisville. He is tied for second on the squad in 3-pointers made (12) and is shooting at a 38.7 clip from deep (12-of-31). He stands 9^th in league scoring (16.0) and 10^th in free throw percentage (.857, 24-of-28).

Action Jackson
Junior Loren Cristian Jackson is the only Zip to record double-digit points in every game this season. He ranks second on the squad in scoring with 15.8 points per game. He leads the squad in assists, dishing out 4.3 helpers per game (26) while making 23-of-27 from the charity stripe (.852). Jackson a buried a second-best 12 triples. Jackson is ranked in the top of the MAC in four categories, including assists (6^th, 4.3), assist/to ratio (10^th, 2.0), scoring (11^th, 15.8) and free throw percentage (12^th, .852).

Like Money in the Bank$
Senior Channel Banks ranks fourth in scoring for the Zips with 12.0 points per game. He is shooting a team-high 45-percent from deep and owns a team-best 18 made 3-pointers (18-of-40). His 3.0 made 3-pointers per game ranks 4^thbest in the MAC. Banks scored in double figures four times in five games, vs Malone (15), @ WVU (16), vs YSU (12) and @ No.2 Louisville (18) – season and career high.

Are You Xeyrius?
Senior Xeyrius Williams impacts both sides of the floor for the Zips while nearly averaging a double-double with 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per night. He owns team-highs in rebounds (57) and blocked shots (12). Williams is shooting 94.7 percent from the free throw line (18-of-19). He has scored with double figures three times this season, including a season-high 20 points against WVU – Others: vs Malone 17 and vs NC Central 19. Williams ranks among the league's best in four categories including blocked shots (2^nd, 2.0), rebounding (2^nd, 9.5), defensive rebounds (2^nd, 7.7) and free throw percentage (4^th, .947).

UP NEXT
The Zips travel to Huntington, W.Va. for a non-conference game against Marshall on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/AkronZips. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.