Akron Travels to Northern Illinois

Tuesday, January 14

DeKalb, IL

8 PM

University of Akron

Northern Illinois

Buy Tickets

January 13 | Men's Basketball

Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Groce on Twitter

Akron Notes PDF | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Akron Sports Network | Season Tickets | Akron Basketball Schedule

Akron Zips (13-3, 3-0 MAC) vs Northern Illinois (9-7, 2-1 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 14 • NIU Convocation Center • DeKalb, Ill. • 8 PM ET • ESPN+

Northern Illinois Head Coach
Mark Montgomery (Michigan State)
Overall Record: 114-157 (9th Season)
Record at NIU: 114-157 (9th Season)
MAC Record: 54-89 (9th Season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 224-168 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 45-37 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 17-22 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 51-52 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 26-12- Groce vs. NIU 2-1 (6-1 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 67, Northern Illinois 65 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 26, 2019
First Meeting: Akron 75, Northern Illinois 68 in DeKalb on Jan. 23, 1988
In Akron:17-2, Neutral: 0-0, In DeKalb: 9-10

Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN+ - Andy Garcia (PxP), Mark Lindo (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 looks for its fourth Mid-American Conference win and second MAC road victory as the Zips travel to DeKalb, Ill. for a league matchup against Northern Illinois. On Tuesday, Jan. 14 the Zips and the Huskies are slated to square off at the NIU Convocation Center at 8 p.m. ET.

The Zips are riding four-game winning streak and own a 13-3 overall record while standing 3-0 in league play. Akron is 10-0 at home, 2-2 on the road and 1-1 at neutral sites this season. Akron defeated Eastern Michigan on the road in the MAC season opener (69-45) and Western Michigan (84-69) and Ball State (75-60) at the JAR.

The Polls - Zips Rank 14th in Mid-Major Top 25 Poll
For the first time since the 2016-17 season, Akron basketball returned to the The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll at No. 19. The Zips received 194 votes to climb eight spots on the Jan. 6 rankings. The Zips were previously ranked 27th overall with 43 points. After a 2-0 week, defeating Western Michigan and Ball State Akron jumped five spots with 359 points (1/13/2020). In 2016-17, the Zips climbed as high as No. 7 in the mid-major poll, receiving 577 votes by Jan. 30.

In addition, Akron received one vote for the AP Poll on Monday, Jan. 13. The Zips debuted at No. 63 in the first NCAA NET Rankings and now stands 40th overall. In the Ken Pom rankings, Akron is currently 71^st overall and has the top defensive efficiency rating in the MAC after three games (86.0) which stands 79th in the NCAA (94.9). Akron is at the top of the MAC in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pom (112.6) and 74^th in the NCAA (105.3).

Scouting the Huskies
The Huskies own an 9-7 overall record, standing 5-2 at home and 4-5 on the road this season. NIU averages 68.9 points per game on 42.0 percent shooting from the floor and 34.9 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 7.9 triples a game. In addition, the Huskies shoot 66.7 percent from the free throw line on 11.8 attempts per game.

Northern Illinois has one player averaging double-digits in points as MAC Player of the Year candidate Eugene German leads the way. German averages a league-best 20.4 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the floor (117-of-265) and 35.4 percent from deep (40-of-113). He owns team-highs in made field goals (117), 3-point FG (40), free throw made/attempts (53-of-75), points scored (327), assists (46) and steals (20) while ranking third on the glass with 62 rebounds.

Lacey James follows with 9.3 points per game and controls the paint for the red and black with 126 total rebounds. He shoots 44.1 percent from the floor (56-of-127) and buried 10 triples for a 37.0 shooting percentage from deep.

Other contributors for Northern Illinois include, Trendon Hankerson, Darius Beane, Nathan Scott and Noah McCarty. Hankerson ranks second on the team in 3-pointers made, but holds the highest shooting percentage from deep (21-of-45, .467), assists (34) and steals (19) while averaging 7.7 points per night. Beane adds 6.3 points per game and contributes in every statistical category, while Scott contributes 5.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. McCarty is the second highest rebounder with 74 boards and adds 5.6 points on average.

Defensively, NIU limits its opponents to scoring 64.6 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the floor and 28.8 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.1 long distance strikes per night. The Huskies caused 192 turnovers (12.0 to/g) with 93 steals (5.8 stl/g). Northern Illinois outrebounds the opponent by a +5.1 margin as the opponent grabbed 554 total boards (34.6 rebs/g) compared to the Huskies 636 total rebounds (39.8 rebs/g) secured.

The Akron-Northern Illinois Series
Tuesday's game marks the 39th meeting in series history between Akron and NIU, and 8th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 26-12 series advantage while Groce is 2-1 at Akron and 6-1 against the Huskies all-time.

The Zips have won nine of the last 12 games, splitting last season's series with a 73-56 setback in DeKalb and a 67-65 triumph in Akron. The Zips won the 2017-18 lone matchup, 82-67, at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron on Jan. 20. In 2016-17, The Zips won 76-73, at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb on Jan. 31. Akron and the Huskies split the 2015-16 season's series, winning at Rhodes Arena on Jan. 26, 76-66, but falling at NIU Convocation Center on Feb. 13, 80-79.

Akron is 17-2 all-time against the Huskies at Rhodes Arena. However, NIU holds a 10-9 overall record in DeKalb. The Huskies have won the last 6-of-9 meetings at the NIU Convocation Center.

Akron in the MAC
The Zips have posted a 53-33 mark (.616) in the last 86 games against the MAC East dating back to the start of the 2012 league schedule. Akron is 6-3 against the MAC East at the conference tournament during that stretch. Akron is 109-52 in the regular season against the West Division (.677), including winners of 52 of the last 68 regular-season games since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season. Akron is 63-15 (.808) at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 172-85 overall (.668), including a 108-22 mark in MAC play at home (.829). The Zips' 172 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 92 of their last 134 MAC games (.684).

Defending the JAR
Akron is 10-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and is riding an 12-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.The Zips only allow opponents to score 57.8 points per game at home on 35.5 percent shooting from the field (219-of-617) and 25.4 percent from deep (49-of-193). Akron has allowed 578 total points in 10 games – 79 points was the most for the opposition at Rhodes Arena this season. In fact, Akron has held seven teams to 60 points or less, including five teams to 50 or less.

2020 Vision
Four different players have scored at least 20 points 13 times this season. Tyler Cheese own five of those performances, scoring 20 points three times coupled with 21-point and 25-point efforts. Loren Cristian Jackson follows with four 20-plus point performances, registering a season high 28 points, a pair of 26 -point showings and a 20-point effort. Xeyrius Williams and Channel Banks round out the 20-point performers list as Williams posted a career-best 25-point, 23-point and 20-point games. Banks is also a career-high with 21 points. In addition, the Zips have three 19-point efforts by Williams (N.C. Central), Cheese (YSU) and Jackson (YSU).

Strong Defensive Stance and Sacrifice
The Akron Zips have limited opponents to scoring 60 points or less in nine games, including five games of 50 points or under. The Zips allow only 63.3 points per game, ranking No. 58 in the NCAA for scoring defense and third in the MAC. Akron limits opponents to 38.9 shooting from the floor (40th) and 27.3 from long distance (12th). Akron has caused 228 turnovers (14.3 t/g) with 80 steals (5.0 stl/g). In addition, players are sacrificing their bodies by taking charges as Banks leads with 15 followed by Jackson (13) and Cheese (12).

Zips Scoring in Bunches
The Zips have four players averaging double figures in scoring led by Loren Cristian Jackson with 16.6 points per game followed by Tyler Cheese (15.1), Xeyrius Williams (14.3) and Channel Banks (11.8). Over the first 16 games, the Akron Zips have seen at least three players score in double digits in every 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), YSU (Cheese 19, Jackson 19, Banks 12 and Reece 10), Southern (Cheese 21, Williams 15, Banks 14, and Reece 11), Concord (Banks 19, Sayles 16, Williams 12 and Tribble 11) and Liberty (Banks 17, Jackson 17, Williams 15 and Cheese 12).

Pass the Cheese
Senior Tyler Cheese ranks second in scoring for the Zips, averaging 15.1 points per game, ranking 9th in the MAC. He registered double-digit points in 13-of-16 games with a season high of 25 points. He posted games of 21, 20 (three times), 21, 19, 17 (two times) and 15 (two times). Cheese is fourth on the squad in 3-pointers made (25) and is shooting at a 37.3 percent clip from deep (25-of-67). In the MAC, he stands 6th in free throw percentage (.809, 55-of-68), 10th assists (2.9) and 20th in 3-point FG percentage (.373).

ARE YOU XEYRIUS?
Senior Xeyrius Williams impacts both sides of the floor for the Zips, nearly averaging a double-double with 14.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per night. He owns team-highs in rebounds (154) and blocked shots (19). Williams is shooting 86.7 percent from the free throw line (26-of-30). In the NCAA, Williams ranks 11th in defensive rebounds per game (7.9), 35th rebounds per game (9.6), 40th total rebounds (154), 72nd double-doubles (5), 156th total blocks (19) and 168th blocked shots per game (1.2). He ranks among the league's best in five categories including rebounding (2nd), defensive rebounds (2nd), blocked shots (5th) and scoring (16th). He has scored with double figures 12 times this season, including a career-high 25 points against Marshall. He has four double-doubles this season and grabbed double-digit rebounds eight times, including a career-best 15 rebounds against Tulane. He earned MAC East Player of the Week two times.

R&R In The Paint...
Senior Deng Riak and Junior Camron Reece are huge pieces for the Zips frontcourt and they don't let the defense relax. Combined, the two big-men average 11 points and 10 rebounds per game which allows the offense to flow and forces defenses to pick their poison.

Riak is the Zips defensive anchor, seeing plays before they happen and making sure the four other players are in position to guard. He averages 20 minutes per game, scores 3.8 points and grabs 5.0 rebounds on average. He secured 80 total rebounds and blocked 11 shots.

Reece clocks 18-minutes per game and averages 7.0 points on 58.7 percent shooting from the floor. He scored in double-digits five times this season, including a career-high 13 points on two occasions, vs Malone and Marshall. Reece is an electric player that gets the crowd involved as a result of his supreme athleticism and high-flying dunks. He grabs 5.0 rebounds per game and posted seven blocked shots. Reece has made 24-of-36 free throws for a 66.7 free throw percentage.

Like Money in the Bank$
Senior Channel Banks is 3rd in the MAC and 11^th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage, draining 44.9 percent from long distance. His 2.75 triples per game leads the Zips and ranks 4th in league play and 59th in the NCAA. Banks has buried a team-high 44-of-98 from deep and ranks in the 59^th in the NCAA. Banks scored in double figures in 10-of-16 games which includes a career-high 21 against UMass. He is ranked 15th in the MAC for steals with 1.3 per game.

Action Jackson
Junior Loren Cristian Jackson is the leading scorer for the Zips, averaging 16.6 points per game and ranks 5th in the MAC. He scored double-digit points in 13-of-16 games, including a season-high 28 points against Marshall. He leads the squad in assists (82), dishing out 5.1 helpers per game while making 66-of-76 from the charity stripe (.868). Jackson buried a third-best 37 triples. Jackson is ranked in the top of the MAC in six categories, including assist/to ratio (2nd, 2.4), free throw percentage (3rd, .868), assists (4th, 5.1), scoring (5th, 16.6), 3-point FG made (13th, 2.3) and 3-point FG percentage (15th, .381). In the NCAA, Jackson ranks 37th assist/turnover ratio, 43rd free throw percentage, 52nd total assists and 52nd assists per game. He earned MAC East Player of the Week.

The Broadcasts
The Zips versus Northern Illinois game is available for broadcast on ESPN+ with Andy Garcia calling the action and Mark Lindo 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.

UP NEXT
Akron will be back at Rhodes Arena to defend their homecourt winning streak against Toledo on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. The Akron women's game will follow at 4:30 as the Zips host Northern Illinois. Both contests are scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN+ and 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.