Zips Back in MAC East Play On The Road Against Bowling Green

Tuesday, February 19

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 pm

University of Akron

Bowling Green

Tickets

Zips Back in MAC East Play On The Road Against Bowling Green

February 18 | Men's Basketball

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Akron Zips (14-11, 6-6) vs. Bowling Green (18-7, 10-2)
Tuesday, Feb. 19 • Stroh Center • Bowling Green, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN+

Bowling Green Head Coach
Michael Huger (Bowling Green '94)
Overall Record: 63-60 (4th Season)
Record at BGSU: 63-60 (4th Season)
MAC Record: 29-37 (4th Season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 208-160 (11th Season)
Record at Akron: 28-29 (2nd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 12-18 (2nd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 46-48 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 38-25 - Groce vs. Bowling Green: 2-0 (5-6 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 81, BGSU 79 at Stroh Center on Feb. 20, 2018
First Meeting: Akron 52, BGSU 29 in Akron 1937-38 season

Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN+ – Brad Woznicki (PxP)
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network - Steve French (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst) WARF 1350 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips

Quick Hits
• A win would extend Akron's winning streak to three games over Bowling Green
• The Zips are No. 22 in defense efficiency, and No. 100 overall team in Ken Pomeroy Rankings
• Akron Ranks in the NCAA Top 100 teams in 11 Categories
• The Zips are ranked 13th in the NCAA for scoring defense only allowing 62.3 points per game
• Akron is ranked 21st in 3-point FG% Defense (29.9), 29th 3-point FGs attempted (709), 29th FG% Defense (40.2), 46th TO/game (11.5), 40th Fewest TO (288), 53rd TO margin (2.5), 75th 3pt/game (8.8), 69th Scoring Margin (+7.2), 77th Fewest Fouls (429), 99th in 3-point FGs made (220) and 99th DREB/g (26.24).

What's Ahead
The Akron Zips look to extend its two-game winning streak over Bowling Green while the league-leading Falcons try to avenge a 2017-18 season sweep when Akron rolls into the Stroh Center on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. The first game of the 2018-19 season series is scheduled to be aired on ESPN+ and Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship). The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.

The Akron-Bowling Green Series
Tuesday's game marks the 64th meeting in series history between Akron and Bowling Green, and 12th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 38-25 series advantage while Groce is 5-6 against BGSU and 2-0 at Akron.

The Zips have won 27 of the last 29 games, and swept last season's series with an 80-78 win at Rhodes Arena (1/13/18) and an 81-79 win at the Stroh Center (2/20/18). Both games came down to the final possession.

In 2016-17, the two teams split the season series. The Zips opened Mid-American Conference play with an 89-84 win over BGSU at the JAR (1/3/17). BGSU picked up the win in the closing seconds at the Stroh Center, 66-65, snapping the Zips' 17-game winning streak against the Falcons. It was Akron's first loss to BGSU since March 1, 2009, a 50-46 loss at Rhodes Arena. Akron has won eight consecutive games at the JAR and 13-of-14 at the Stroh Center.

In addition, Akron posted three wins in the 2015-16 season, including an 80-66 win during the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament. The Zips have met the Falcons four times in the MAC Tournament with the series being tied at two games apiece. In addition, the 2017 MAC opener was the third time in series history that Akron and Bowling Green have met to open the MAC schedule. Akron holds a 3-0 advantage in conference openers, posting a 53-51 win in 1992-93, 71-45 victory during the 2009-10 season, and an 89-84 win in 2016-17 – all at Rhodes Arena.

Scouting the Falcons
Bowling Green enters the contest with a 18-7 overall record and 10-2 in MAC play. The Falcons rode a 10-game winning streak into the Miami, but fell to the RedHawks (67-53) in Oxford. The Falcons bounced back with a 92-88 win against No. 18 Buffalo. BGSU has won the last 3-of-4 games, falling to Toledo (78-71) and defeating WMU (85-72), CMU (79-72) and NIU (87-67).

BGSU has three players scoring in double figures and a fourth player at 9.2 points per game in Antwon Lillard.

Justin Turner leads the squad in points, assists and steals, averaging 18.8 points per game with 84 assists and 35 steals. He shoots 48.8 percent from the floor (176-of-361) and 38.5 percent from downtown (45-of-117). Turner shoots 71.8 percent (74-of-103) at the free throw line and grabs 3.8 rebounds per game (94 rebs).

Demajeo Wiggins and Dylan Frye follow with 13.0 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Wiggins grabs a team-best 11.2 rebounds per game (279 rebs) while connecting with 49.8 percent of his shots, all in the painted area. He has buried a team-best 123 free throws, blocked 16 shots, and dished out 23 assists. Frye leads the Falcons from behind the 3-point arc, draining 63 triples in 164 attempts (.384). Frye has buried 26 bonus buckets while dishing out 68 assists, grabbing 59 rebounds and swiping 32 steals.

Lillard's 9.2 points per game comes from 43.7 percent shooting from the field (73-of-167) and 41.5 percent from deep (34-of-82). He adds 39 assists, 24 steals and nine blocks. In addition, Caleb Fields is a threat from deep, posting 22 long-distance makes on 61 chances for a 36.1 percent effort with only 11 standard field goals (33-of-92).

Defensively, BGSU allows opponents to score 70.6 points a night on 40.7 percent shooting from the field and 34.0 percent from downtown, allowing 8.8 made 3-pt FG per game. The Falcons caused 336 turnovers (13.4 tpg) while collecting 175 steals (7.0 stl/g) and 68 blocked shots (2.7 blk/g). On the glass, BGSU outrebounds the opponent by a +7.1 margin as the opponent to grabs 870 (34.8) total boards compared to the 1,048 (41.9) total rebounds.

Strong Defensive Stance
The Akron Zips are ranked in the Top 25 in defense efficiency, according to the Ken Pomeroy rankings. The Zips are 22^nd overall and cracked KenPom's Top 100 teams, ranking 100^th overall. Akron has limited opponents to scoring 60 points or less in 10 games, including five games of 50 points or under. The Zips allow only 62.3 points per game which ranks No. 13 in the NCAA for scoring defense and first in the MAC. Akron limits opponents to 40.2 shooting from the floor (29th) and 29.9 from long distance (21st). Akron has caused 351 turnovers (14.0 t/g) with 144 steals (5.8 stl/g). Jimond Ivey leads the team in takeaways with 32 steals, Tyler Cheese is second (29), Loren Cristian Jackson (26), Channel Banks (22), Daniel Utomi (14). In addition, players are sacrificing their bodies by taking charges as Jackson has taken 21, Cheese 20 and Channel Banks 12.

The Broadcasts
The Zips' game is scheduled to air on ESPN+ as Brad Woznicki will call the action. 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.

UP NEXT
Akron will be back at James A. Rhodes Arena, hosting the Miami RedHawks on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. The Akron women's basketball game will follow at 5 p.m. Fans can also follow the action on ESPN3, Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship). The free audio stream is available at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips.