Akron Battles Central Michigan on ESPNU

Friday, February 14

Mount Pleasant, MI

7 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

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February 13 | Men's Basketball

Akron Battles Central Michigan on ESPNU

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Akron Zips (18-6, 8-3 MAC) vs Central Michigan (13-10, 6-4 MAC)
Friday, Feb. 14 • McGuirk Arena • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • 7 PM • ESPNU

Central Michigan Head Coach
Keno Davis (Iowa, 1995)
Overall Record: 208-174 (12th Season)
Record at CMU: 134-119 (8th Season)
MAC Record: 58-76 (8th Season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 229-171 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 49-40 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 22-25 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 56-55 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 34-15 - Groce vs. Central Michigan: 2-1 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 70, Central Michigan 67 - Jan. 22, 2019 at James A. Rhodes Arena
First Meeting: Akron 29, Central Michigan 23 - 1938-39 season in Akron
In Akron:20-5, Neutral: 1-0, In Mount Pleasant: 13-10

Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPNU – Jon Meterparel (PxP), David Padgett (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
The Akron Zips are riding a two-game winning streak and coming off a 74-59 win over top-ranked Bowling Green as Akron travels to Mount Pleasant, Mich. For an cross divisional matchup with Central Michigan. On Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m., Akron will battle the Chippewas at McGuirk Arena.The contest will be televised on ESPNU 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.

The Zips are 18-6 overall record with a 8-3 league mark. Akron opened league play against five consecutive western division opponents. All other league foes played at least two divisional opponents during that stretch. Akron is 5-1 against the West, defeating Eastern Michigan on the road in the MAC season opener (69-45) and again on Feb. 8 (59-58, H), Western Michigan (84-69, H), Ball State (75-60, H), Northern Illinois (72-49, A) but fell to Toledo (99-89, H). The Zips are 3-2 in divisional play, defeating Miami (81-60), Ohio (88-86) and Bowling Green, but fell to Buffalo (77-74, H) and Kent State (68-67, A).

Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan enters the contest with a 13-10 overall record and 6-4 in MAC play. The Chippewas have dropped two straight games, including a 73-70 set back at home to Eastern Michigan and 65-60 defeat at Buffalo. Central Michigan is 11-2 (4-2 MAC) at home and 2-8 (2-2 MAC) on the road. CMU averages a MAC-best 81.3 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the floor (652-of-1480) and 34.2 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc (191-of-558), draining 8.3 triples a game. In addition, the Chippewas shoot 74.1 percent from the free throw line (375-of-506) with 16.3 bonus buckets a night.

CMU has four players scoring in double figures led by David DiLeo, who recently became the all-time career-leader for 3-point field goals for Central Michigan and the Mid-American Conference. DiLeo drained 63 triples this season, brining his career total to 316. He averages 14.9 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting from the floor and 39.9 percent from deep. DiLeo shoots a team-best 88.9 percent from the free throw line (56-of-63) while adding 4.7 rebounds per game, 24 assists and 23 steals.

Kevin McKay follows with 14.8 points per game on 64.4 percent shooting from the floor (112-of-174). McKay is the team leader on the glass with 6.7 rebounds per game or 127 total boards and second best in steals (34).

Dallas Morgan and Rob Montgomery round out the double-digit scoring with 14.0 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. Morgan is second best from behind the 3-point arc with 57 triples on 35.2 percent shooting from deep. He adds 28 assists and 18 steals. Montgomery owns a team-high 17 blocked shots and is second on the glass (5.7 rebs/g) with 124 rebounds while adding 29 steals and 17 assists.

In addition, Devontae Lane is the team leader in assists (70) and steals (41) and contributes 9.2 points per night.

Defensively, CMU limits its opponents to 75.7 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting from the floor and 36.5 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 9.0 long distance strikes per night. The Chippewas caused 387 turnovers (16.8 to/g) with 218 steals (9.5 stl/g). The opposition holds the edge on the glass, outrebounding CMU by a narrow +0.4 margin with 860 total boards (37.4 rebs/g) compared to the Chippewas 852 total rebounds secured (37.0 rebs/g).

The Akron-Central Michigan Series
Friday's game marks the 50th meeting in series history between Akron and Central Michigan, and ninth meeting for a Groce coached squad, fourth at Akron. The Zips hold an all-time 34-15 series advantage while Groce is 5-3 overall and 2-1 at Akron.

The Zips have won 19 of the last 22 meetings as the two teams split last season's series. Akron fell in overtime 88-86 at McGuirk Arena in the first meeting, but bounced back with a 70-67 win at Rhodes Arena. The Zips claimed sole meeting in 2017-18 at James A. Rhodes Arena, 69-63.

The Zips have won four of the last six games against the Chippewas, dating back to the 2015-16 season. Central Michigan won 92-81 on January 12, 2016 at McGuirk Arena, and later that season (Feb. 5), the Zips won 92-87 at home. In addition, Akron posted an 89-85 win at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 10, 2017. UA is 20-5 at Rhodes Arena, 13-10 at McGuirk Arena and 1-0 in neutral site games against CMU.

Defending the JAR
Akron is 12-2 at James A. Rhodes Arena and had a 12-game home court winning streak snapped by Toledo and fell to Buffalo the next time out. The Zips only allow opponents to score 62.2 points per game at home on 37.9 percent shooting from the field (320-of-844) and 28.7 percent from deep (80-of-279). Akron averages +14.4 scoring margin and has allowed 871 total points in 14 games – 99 points was the most for the opposition at Rhodes Arena this season. In fact, Akron has held eight teams to 60 points or less, including five teams to 50 or less.

Zips Improvement Under Groce...
In the first year under Groce (2017-18), the Zips had to find their groove again with a brand new roster, virtually starting from scratch. That year the Zips finished with a 14-18 overall record and 6-12 league mark, ranking 234th in offensive efficiency (101.8), 270th defensive efficiency (109.9) and 198th in pace of play (67.8). Akron lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

In year two (2018-19), The Zips dramatically improved on the defensive side of the ball, finishing No. 22 defensive efficiency (94.1) and No. 1 in the MAC. Akron climbed 248 slots, however the slower tempo 254th (66.2) and offensive efficiency 259th (100.0) needed improvement. The Zips finished 17-16 overall and 8-10 MAC while advancing to the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament.

This season, the Zips picked up the pace, improving 142 spots in the tempo ratings, ranking 112th (69.5). The new pace of play directly effects the offensive efficiency rating as the Zips climbed 219 spots for a No. 40 (110.4) ranking in the NCAA. On the defensive side of the ball, Akron stands at 128th (100.1).

The Polls - Zips Rank 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. Akron is currently No. 15 (2/10/20). The Zips entered the poll at No. 19 with 194 votes to climb eight spots on the Jan. 6 rankings. The Zips were previously ranked 27th overall with 43 points. Akron jumped five spots to No. 14 with 359 points (1/13/2020). Akron split week three MAC games and dropped to No. 16 with 336 points (1/20/2020). Akron climbs to its best ranking of the season at No. 12 after a pair of road wins (1/27/20). Zips fell to 16^th after two losses (2/3/20), but moved up to 15^th with a lone win during bye week (2/10/20). 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. 27 and Jan. 13. The Zips debuted at No. 63 in the first NCAA NET Rankings and now stands 79th. Akron's highest ranking of the season was No. 34.

In the Ken Pom rankings, Akron is currently 71st overall and is at the top of the MAC in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pom (110.7) and 48th in the NCAA (109.8). Akron has the fourth-best defensive efficiency rating in the MAC after 11 league games (97.1) and stands 117th in the NCAA (99.2).

Strong Defensive Stance and Sacrifice
The Akron Zips have limited opponents to scoring 60 points or less in 12 games, including six games of 50 points or under. The Zips allow only 65.4 points per game, ranking No. 73 in the NCAA for scoring defense and 4th MAC. Akron limits opponents to 40.0 shooting from the floor (47th NCAA, 2nd MAC) and 30.5 from long distance (58th NCAA, 2nd MAC). Akron has caused 333 turnovers (13.9 t/g) with 117 steals (4.9 stl/g). In addition, players are sacrificing their bodies by taking charges as Banks leads with 22 followed by Cheese (18) and Jackson (16).

Creating Space
The Akron Zips are 9-3 in the last 12 games, including seven MAC wins by double figures. During that stretch, the Zips have outscored the opponents by a +9.0 margin (+108, 917-809). In the 10 league games, Akron holds a +9.3 margin (+102, 832-730). The Zips defeated UMass (+6), EMU (+24), WMU (+15), BSU (+15), NIU (+23), Miami (+21), Ohio (+2), EMU (+1, 59-58), BGSU (+15). The Zips fell to Toledo (-10), Buffalo (-3) and Kent State (-1). The Zips own a +10.6 scoring margin in all games (+254, 1,823-1,569).

Long Distance Attacks
Akron is shooting 37.9 percent as a team from beyond the 3-point arc (229-of-604), ranking 20th NCAA and 1st MAC. The 229 made 3-pointers ranks 25th NCAA and 2nd MAC while attempts (604) ranks 61st NCAA and 5th MAC. Akron averages 9.5 triples per game, standing 22nd NCAA and 1st MAC. The long distances attacks are spearheaded by Loren Cristian Jackson with 70 while Channel Banks and Xeyrius Williams follow with 59 and 58, respectively. Jackson ranks 27th in the NCAA, while Banks and Williams rank 95th and 103rd, respectively. Cheese has 36 made 3-pointers.

2020 Vision
Four different players have scored at least 20 points 20 times this season. Loren Cristian Jackson leads with nine 20-plus point performances, registering a career-high 35 points in addition to a 33-, a trio of 28-, a pair of 26- and a pair of 20-point efforts. Tyler Cheese owns seven of those performances, scoring 20 points three times coupled with 25-, 23-, and a pair of 21-point efforts. 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 six 19-point efforts by Williams (NC Central, Miami), Cheese (YSU, Toledo) and Jackson (YSU, Kent State).

Zips Scoring in Bunches
The Zips have four players averaging double figures in scoring led by Loren Cristian Jackson with 18.9 points per game followed by Tyler Cheese (16.0), Xeyrius Williams (14.1) and Channel Banks (10.8). Over 24 games, the Akron Zips have seen at least three players score in double digits in 22 times. Akron had five double-figure scorers against Malone (Williams 17, Banks 15, Cheese 15, Reece 13 and Jackson 12) ... four against Buffalo (Jackson 28, Williams 16, Cheese 12 and Banks 11), Miami (Jackson 20, Williams 19, Cheese 18, Banks 12), 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), Liberty (Banks 17, Jackson 17, Williams 15 and Cheese 12), Ohio (Jackson 35, Chees 16, Banks 12 and Williams 12) and Kent State (Jackson 19, Cheese 15, Williams 15 and Banks 10).

The Broadcasts
The Zips game will be broadcasted on ESPNU with Jon Meterparel calling the action and David Padgett 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 on the road again in Michigan, this time in Kalamazoo to take on Western Michigan. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, The Zips will battle the Broncos at Read Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ which also 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.