The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Opens Home MAC Play Against Western Michigan on Tuesday
January 06 | Men's Basketball
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Akron Zips (11-3, 1-0 MAC) vs Western Michigan (8-6, 1-0 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 7 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN+
Western Michigan Head Coach
Steve Hawkins (South Alabama '87)
Overall Record: 423-360 (26th Season)
Record at WMU:286-249 (17th Season)
MAC Record: 153-122 (17th Season)
AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 222-168 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 42-37 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 15-22 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 49-52 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 32-20 (7-2 MAC Tournament) - Groce vs. Western Michigan: 2-1 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 56, Western Michigan,48 at James A. Rhodes Arena on January 5, 2019
First Meeting: Akron 79, Western Michigan 74 March 5, 1988 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
In Akron:17-7, Neutral: 5-2, In Kalamazoo: 10-11
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN+ - 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
Mid-American Conference play is back - #MACtion – and the Zips are set to open the 28th season of league play on the road against Eastern Michigan. On Saturday, Jan. 4 Akron is scheduled to battle the Eagles at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Tip-off is slated for Noon and is scheduled to be aired on ESPN+ and the Akron 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 Zips are off to a solid start, standing 10-3 overall with an unblemished 8-0 record at home, 1-2 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site contests. Akron is 19-8 in MAC openers, 11-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 15 seasons, the Zips are 12-4 in MAC openers and 8-1 at home. Akron has won the last 8-of-9 MAC openers.
Zips Rank 19th 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. In 2016-17, the Zips climbed as high as No. 7 in the mid-major poll, receiving 577 votes by Jan. 30.
The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll is in its 21st season of existence and represents teams from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic Conferences.
Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan opened MAC play with a 77-65 win over the Ohio Bobcats. The Broncos own an 8-6 overall record, standing 6-1 at home, 2-3 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games this season. WMU averages 72.9 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting from the floor and 30.8 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 7.4 triples a game. In addition, the Broncos shoot 71.9 percent from the free throw line with 17.4 per game.
WMU has two players scoring in double figures led by Michael Flowers and Brandon Johnson. Flowers leads the team with 16.9 points per night and connects from downtown nearly half of the time. He owns a team-best 33 made 3-pointers on 78 attempts for a 42.3 percent shooting. He shoots 44.0 percent from all areas of the court with 70 total made field goals. Flowers also leads the squad in assists (50) and second in steals (12).
Johnson follows controls the paint while averaging 14.9 points per night on 45.5 percent shooting (75-of-165). He is the team's top rebounder, grabbing 8.6 boards a game (121 total rebounds). Johnson is the team leader in blocked shots with 12 of WMU's 28.
Bartis White adds 8.1 points per game with a second-best 22 triples. He is the team leader in steals with 14, while Jared Printy and Rafael Cruz, Jr. total 16 and 10 long-distance shots, respectively. Jason Whitens is second in rebounds (74) and assists (22).
Defensively, WMU allows its opponents to score 72.4 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting from the floor and 31.5 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.3 long distance strikes per night. The Broncos caused 174 turnovers (12.4 to/g) with 76 steals (5.4 stl/g). Western Michigan is outrebounded by the opponent by a -3.2 margin as the opponent grabbed 541 total boards (38.6 rebs/g) compared to the 496 total rebounds (35.4 rebs/g) secured.
The Akron-Western Michigan Series
Tuesday's game marks the 53rd meeting in series history between Akron and Western Michigan with the Zips owning a 32-20 all-time series advantage. In addition, the Zips and the Broncos have met nine times in postseason history as Akron holds a 7-2 edge. Head coach John Groce is 5-3 all-time against the Broncos and 2-1 at Akron.
Akron has won eight of the last nine meetings and 20 of the last 24 games of the series. Akron won the lone game in 2018-19 season 56-48 at the JAR to open MAC play. In 2017-18, the two teams split the series (1-1) as the Broncos defeated Akron in the MAC opener 87-75 in Kalamazoo, ending the Zips five-year, six-game winning streak – Western Michigan's pervious win came during the 2014 MAC Tournament semifinals on March 14. WMU needed overtime to advance to the title game, defeating Akron 64-60 at Quicken Loans Arena.
In the second meeting of 2017-18, Akron pulled-off an improbable come-from-behind victory to advance in the 2018 MAC Tournament. In the first round of the MAC Tournament at University Arena, the No. 11 seeded Zips earned a 79-78 win over No. 6 seeded Broncos after trailing by 19 points. In 2016-17, Akron swept the season series, winning game one 66-59 at James A. Rhodes Arena and followed with a 90-80 win in Kalamazoo, Mich. In the 2015-16 season's lone meeting, Akron posted a 62-53 win over the Broncos at Rhodes Arena.
Akron is 7-2 in the MAC Tournament against WMU and 5-2 on a neutral court. In addition, the Zips are 10-11 in Kalamazoo, winning six of the last eight meetings at University Arena. In 2002, Akron opened the MAC Tournament in Kalamazoo and advanced to Cleveland after a 90-83 win as the 11th seed. The Zips are 2-0 in the MAC Tournament at University Arena and 6-6 all-time in opening round games.
Defending the JAR
Akron is 8-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and is riding an 10-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 seven wins at the JAR over Malone (81-64), NC Central (57-47), USC Upstate (76-45), Youngstown State (82-60), Merrimack (64-47), Southern (72-57) Concord (100-50) and UMass (85-79). The Zips only allow opponents to score 56.1 points per game at home on 33.5 percent shooting from the field (172-of-521) and 22.4 percent from deep (35-of-156). Akron has allowed 449 total points in eight games – 64 points was the most for the opposition at Rhodes Arena this season. In fact, Akron has held six teams to 60 points or less, including four teams to 50 or less.
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 107-52 in the regular season against the West Division (.673), including winners of 50 of the last 66 regular-season games since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season. Akron is 61-15 (.803) 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 170-85 overall (.667), including a 106-22 mark in MAC play at home (.828). The Zips' 170 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 90 of their last 132 MAC games (.682).
UP NEXT
Akron returns to the JAR for Mid-American Conference action on CBS Sports Network on Friday, Jan. 10 against Western Division leader Ball State. The East/West Division league game is scheduled for 9 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The league contest is scheduled to be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network 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.
Jackson Named MAC East Player of the Week
University of Akron men's basketball junior guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) earned Mid-American Conference Eastern Division Player of the Week honors as a result of two outstanding performances during the week of Dec. 30 – Jan. 5, the league announced on Monday.
Jackson led the Zips to a pair of victories last week, averaging 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He buried 54.2 percent (13-of-24) of his shots from the field, including a 53.3 percent (8-of-15) effort from beyond the 3-point arc. For the week, he recorded 43 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal. Jackson shot 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the charity stripe.
Jackson led the Zips to an 85-79 win over UMass, which extended the Zips home court winning streak to 8-0 this season and 10-0 overall. He registered a game-high 26 points on 50.0 percent (5-of-10) shooting from the floor and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from downtown. Jackson grabbed three rebounds and dished out a trio of assists.
In the MAC opener at Eastern Michigan, the Zips moved to 1-0 in league play as Jackson contributed 17 points to the 69-45 triumph. Again, Jackson was hot from the floor, connecting with 60.0 percent (6-of-10) of his shots from the field and 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from deep. He secured six rebounds, dished out five assists and had a steal.
Akron Notes PDF | ESPN+ | Live Stats | Akron Sports Network | Season Tickets | Akron Basketball Schedule
Akron Zips (11-3, 1-0 MAC) vs Western Michigan (8-6, 1-0 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 7 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN+
Western Michigan Head Coach
Steve Hawkins (South Alabama '87)
Overall Record: 423-360 (26th Season)
Record at WMU:286-249 (17th Season)
MAC Record: 153-122 (17th Season)
AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 222-168 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 42-37 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 15-22 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 49-52 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 32-20 (7-2 MAC Tournament) - Groce vs. Western Michigan: 2-1 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 56, Western Michigan,48 at James A. Rhodes Arena on January 5, 2019
First Meeting: Akron 79, Western Michigan 74 March 5, 1988 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
In Akron:17-7, Neutral: 5-2, In Kalamazoo: 10-11
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN+ - 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
Mid-American Conference play is back - #MACtion – and the Zips are set to open the 28th season of league play on the road against Eastern Michigan. On Saturday, Jan. 4 Akron is scheduled to battle the Eagles at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Tip-off is slated for Noon and is scheduled to be aired on ESPN+ and the Akron 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 Zips are off to a solid start, standing 10-3 overall with an unblemished 8-0 record at home, 1-2 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site contests. Akron is 19-8 in MAC openers, 11-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 15 seasons, the Zips are 12-4 in MAC openers and 8-1 at home. Akron has won the last 8-of-9 MAC openers.
Zips Rank 19th 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. In 2016-17, the Zips climbed as high as No. 7 in the mid-major poll, receiving 577 votes by Jan. 30.
The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll is in its 21st season of existence and represents teams from the America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic Conferences.
Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan opened MAC play with a 77-65 win over the Ohio Bobcats. The Broncos own an 8-6 overall record, standing 6-1 at home, 2-3 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games this season. WMU averages 72.9 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting from the floor and 30.8 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 7.4 triples a game. In addition, the Broncos shoot 71.9 percent from the free throw line with 17.4 per game.
WMU has two players scoring in double figures led by Michael Flowers and Brandon Johnson. Flowers leads the team with 16.9 points per night and connects from downtown nearly half of the time. He owns a team-best 33 made 3-pointers on 78 attempts for a 42.3 percent shooting. He shoots 44.0 percent from all areas of the court with 70 total made field goals. Flowers also leads the squad in assists (50) and second in steals (12).
Johnson follows controls the paint while averaging 14.9 points per night on 45.5 percent shooting (75-of-165). He is the team's top rebounder, grabbing 8.6 boards a game (121 total rebounds). Johnson is the team leader in blocked shots with 12 of WMU's 28.
Bartis White adds 8.1 points per game with a second-best 22 triples. He is the team leader in steals with 14, while Jared Printy and Rafael Cruz, Jr. total 16 and 10 long-distance shots, respectively. Jason Whitens is second in rebounds (74) and assists (22).
Defensively, WMU allows its opponents to score 72.4 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting from the floor and 31.5 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.3 long distance strikes per night. The Broncos caused 174 turnovers (12.4 to/g) with 76 steals (5.4 stl/g). Western Michigan is outrebounded by the opponent by a -3.2 margin as the opponent grabbed 541 total boards (38.6 rebs/g) compared to the 496 total rebounds (35.4 rebs/g) secured.
The Akron-Western Michigan Series
Tuesday's game marks the 53rd meeting in series history between Akron and Western Michigan with the Zips owning a 32-20 all-time series advantage. In addition, the Zips and the Broncos have met nine times in postseason history as Akron holds a 7-2 edge. Head coach John Groce is 5-3 all-time against the Broncos and 2-1 at Akron.
Akron has won eight of the last nine meetings and 20 of the last 24 games of the series. Akron won the lone game in 2018-19 season 56-48 at the JAR to open MAC play. In 2017-18, the two teams split the series (1-1) as the Broncos defeated Akron in the MAC opener 87-75 in Kalamazoo, ending the Zips five-year, six-game winning streak – Western Michigan's pervious win came during the 2014 MAC Tournament semifinals on March 14. WMU needed overtime to advance to the title game, defeating Akron 64-60 at Quicken Loans Arena.
In the second meeting of 2017-18, Akron pulled-off an improbable come-from-behind victory to advance in the 2018 MAC Tournament. In the first round of the MAC Tournament at University Arena, the No. 11 seeded Zips earned a 79-78 win over No. 6 seeded Broncos after trailing by 19 points. In 2016-17, Akron swept the season series, winning game one 66-59 at James A. Rhodes Arena and followed with a 90-80 win in Kalamazoo, Mich. In the 2015-16 season's lone meeting, Akron posted a 62-53 win over the Broncos at Rhodes Arena.
Akron is 7-2 in the MAC Tournament against WMU and 5-2 on a neutral court. In addition, the Zips are 10-11 in Kalamazoo, winning six of the last eight meetings at University Arena. In 2002, Akron opened the MAC Tournament in Kalamazoo and advanced to Cleveland after a 90-83 win as the 11th seed. The Zips are 2-0 in the MAC Tournament at University Arena and 6-6 all-time in opening round games.
Defending the JAR
Akron is 8-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and is riding an 10-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 seven wins at the JAR over Malone (81-64), NC Central (57-47), USC Upstate (76-45), Youngstown State (82-60), Merrimack (64-47), Southern (72-57) Concord (100-50) and UMass (85-79). The Zips only allow opponents to score 56.1 points per game at home on 33.5 percent shooting from the field (172-of-521) and 22.4 percent from deep (35-of-156). Akron has allowed 449 total points in eight games – 64 points was the most for the opposition at Rhodes Arena this season. In fact, Akron has held six teams to 60 points or less, including four teams to 50 or less.
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 107-52 in the regular season against the West Division (.673), including winners of 50 of the last 66 regular-season games since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season. Akron is 61-15 (.803) 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 170-85 overall (.667), including a 106-22 mark in MAC play at home (.828). The Zips' 170 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 90 of their last 132 MAC games (.682).
UP NEXT
Akron returns to the JAR for Mid-American Conference action on CBS Sports Network on Friday, Jan. 10 against Western Division leader Ball State. The East/West Division league game is scheduled for 9 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The league contest is scheduled to be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network 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.
Jackson Named MAC East Player of the Week
University of Akron men's basketball junior guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) earned Mid-American Conference Eastern Division Player of the Week honors as a result of two outstanding performances during the week of Dec. 30 – Jan. 5, the league announced on Monday.
Jackson led the Zips to a pair of victories last week, averaging 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He buried 54.2 percent (13-of-24) of his shots from the field, including a 53.3 percent (8-of-15) effort from beyond the 3-point arc. For the week, he recorded 43 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal. Jackson shot 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the charity stripe.
Jackson led the Zips to an 85-79 win over UMass, which extended the Zips home court winning streak to 8-0 this season and 10-0 overall. He registered a game-high 26 points on 50.0 percent (5-of-10) shooting from the floor and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from downtown. Jackson grabbed three rebounds and dished out a trio of assists.
In the MAC opener at Eastern Michigan, the Zips moved to 1-0 in league play as Jackson contributed 17 points to the 69-45 triumph. Again, Jackson was hot from the floor, connecting with 60.0 percent (6-of-10) of his shots from the field and 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from deep. He secured six rebounds, dished out five assists and had a steal.
Players Mentioned
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