The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Zips Regular Season Road Schedule Ends in Buffalo
February 28 | Men's Basketball
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Akron Zips (21-7, 11-4 MAC) vs Buffalo (18-10, 9-6 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 29 • Alumni Arena • Amherst, N.Y. • 2 PM • ESPN3
Buffalo Head Coach
Jim Whitesell (Luther '82)
Overall: 405-311 (25th season)
Record at UB: 18-10 (1st season)
MAC Record: 9-6 (1st season)
AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 232-172 (12th Season)
Record at Akron: 52-41 (3rd Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 25-26 (3rd Season)
Overall MAC Record: 59-56 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 34-31 - Groce vs. Buffalo: 0-6 (5-10 Overall)
Last Meeting: Buffalo 77, Akron 74 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 28, 2020
First Meeting: Akron 84, Buffalo 74 in Akron 1954-55 season
MAC Tournament: Buffalo Leads: 3-1
Broadcast
TV/Video: ESPN3 – Paul Peck (PxP), Will Regan (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 travel to Buffalo for the second meeting of the season between the two to battle for Mid-American Conference giants. On Saturday, Feb. 29, tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at the Alumni Arena in Amherst, N.Y. The contest will be broadcasted on ESPN3 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 looking to bounce back from a mid-week loss to Bowling Green which snapped a five-game winning streak. Akron is 21-7 overall with a 11-4 league mark. The Zips are 4-3 in divisional play, defeating Miami twice, Ohio and Bowling Green. The Zips fell to Buffalo, Kent State and Bowling Green.Â
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 7-1 against the West, defeating Eastern Michigan twice in the MAC season opener on the road, Western Michigan twice, Ball State and Northern Illinois but fell to Toledo.Â
The Zips have followed a loss with a win four times this season. Akron suffered back-to-back setbacks one time this season.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo enters the contest with an 18-10 overall record and 9-6 in MAC play and under new head coach Jim Whitesell. The Bulls have a 5-3 record since the first meeting with Akron. Buffalo is 9-5 (4-3 MAC) at home, 6-4 (5-3 MAC) on the road and 3-1 in neutral site games.
Buffalo has five players scoring in double figures in points, led by Jayvon Graves with 17.1 points per game. Graves has buried a team-best 65-of-178 from long distance (.365) and is shooting 42.6 percent from all areas of the court with 176 field goals. He is second in assists (73) and rebounds (150, 5.4), third in steals (37) and fourth in blocked shots (14).
Davonta Jordan and Jeenathan Williams follow in scoring with 11.5 points per game. Jordan shoots 51-of-136 (.375) from deep. He is the squads assists leader (144) and is first in steals (56). He is second on the glass (150, 5.4). Jordan shoots 44.6 percent from the floor with 123 made field goals. Williams grabs 4.4 rebounds per game for 124 total boards. He has 25 steals and 21 blocks. Rounding out the double digit scorers are Antwain Johnson and Josh Mballa with 11.2 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. In addition Ronaldo Segu adds 7.6 points per outing with a third-best 61 assists.
Defensively, Buffalo limits its opponents to 76.0 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting from the floor and 33.8 percent from 3-point range, allowing 6.5 long distance strikes per night. The Bulls caused 307 turnovers (15.4 to/g) with 171 steals (8.6 stl/g). Buffalo slightly outrebounds the opponent by a +3.5 margin. The opponents snagged 757 (37.9) total boards compared to the 827 (41.4) total rebounds secured.
The Akron-Buffalo Series
Saturday's game marks the 66th meeting in series history between Akron and Buffalo, and 16th meeting for a Groce coached squad, seventh at Akron. Akron holds an all-time 34-31 series advantage while Groce is 5-10 overall and 0-6 at Akron. In three of those five setbacks, the Zips led at halftime and took a one possession game to the final minutes. The Zips and the Bulls have met four times in postseason play with Buffalo holding a 3-1 edge.
The Bulls posted a 77-74 win earlier this season at the JAR on a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining in the game. The Bulls won three games against the Zips last season, including an 82-46 win in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament. The No. 21/22 ranked Bulls defeated the Zips at Alumni Arena (77-64) and started the series sweep when the No. 24/25 ranked Bulls defeated Akron at James A. Rhodes Arena 76-70 on Feb. 12. The Bulls swept the 2016-17 season's series with an 87-65 win in Akron and an 80-68 win in Buffalo. The Zips swept the regular season series in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and have won four of the last 11 meetings.
On The Road Again...
Akron is 7-4 on the road this season with an impressive 6-2 record when traveling to league foes. The Zips own a +5.6 scoring margin and have outscored the home team (+64, 833-769). Akron averages 75.7 points per game as the visitors while shooting 44.4 from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown with 9.9 made triples per game. On the glass, the Zips are slightly edged the home team, 409-405.
Jackson 46th Member of Akron's 1,000 Point Club
Junior Loren Cristian Jackson became Akron's 46th member of the 1,000th point club as the Zips fell 78-60 to Bowling Green at the Stroh Center. Prior to the game, Jackson needed only 24 points to enter the exclusive group at Akron as he scored his 1,000th career point against Ohio in a 35-point scoring effort. Jackson matched that career-high scoring effort against Bowling Green. In less than two seasons at Akron (61 games), Jackson has eclipsed the 1,000-point mark. Last season he scored 460 points and so far this year he has registered 551 points for 1,011 total points. Jackson eclipsed the 1,000th point threshold at Akron on a 3-pointer from the far wing while being fouled. It was his 24th point of the game and he completed four-point play for a 1,001 total. He led all scorers with his second 35-point performance of the season. Jackson tallied 13 points in the first half and followed with 22 in the final frame.
Akron in the MAC
The Zips have posted a 56-36 mark (.613) in the last 92 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 112-53 in the regular season against the West Division (.679), including winners of 55 of the last 72 regular-season games since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season. Akron is 65-17 (.793) 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 180-90 overall (.668), including a 110-24 mark in MAC play at home (.821). The Zips' 180 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 98 of their last 144 MAC games (.684).
Creating Space
The Akron Zips are 12-4 in the last 16 games, including seven MAC wins by double figures. During that stretch, the Zips have outscored the opponents by a +7.3 margin (+115, 1,203-1,086). In the 15 league games, Akron holds a +7.4 margin (+111, 1,118-1,007). The Zips defeated UMass (+6), EMU (+24), WMU (+15), BSU (+15), NIU (+23), Miami (+21), Ohio (+2), EMU (+1), BGSU (+15), CMU (+13), WMU (+4) and Miami (+10). The Zips fell to Toledo (-10), Buffalo (-3), Kent State (-1) and BGSU (-18). The Zips own a +9.4 scoring margin in all games (+281, 2,049-1,768).
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. 12 (2/24/20). 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, jumped five spots to No. 14 (1/13/2020), dropped to No. 16 with 336 points (1/20/2020), climbed to No. 12 after a pair of road wins (1/27/20), fell to 16th after two losses (2/3/20), but moved up to 15th with a lone win during bye week (2/10/20), moved up to No. 14 after two wins (2/17/20). 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 72nd. Akron's highest ranking of the season was No. 34. In the Ken Pom rankings, Akron is currently 80th overall and is at the top of the MAC in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pom (108.5) and 65th in the NCAA (107.6). Akron has the third-best defensive efficiency rating in the MAC (97.7) and stands 105th in the NCAA (98.2).Â
The 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 141 spots in the tempo ratings, ranking 143th (69.5). The new pace of play directly effects the offensive efficiency rating as the Zips climbed 194 spots for a No. 65 (107.6) ranking in the NCAA. On the defensive side of the ball, Akron stands at 105th (98.2).
Long Distance Attacks
Akron is shooting 36.4 percent as a team from beyond the 3-point arc (261-of-718), ranking 43rd NCAA and 2nd MAC. The 261 made 3-pointers ranks 26th NCAA and 1st MAC while attempts (718) ranks 49th NCAA and 2nd MAC. Akron averages 9.3 triples per game, standing 27th NCAA and 1st MAC. The long distances attacks are spearheaded by Loren Cristian Jackson with 84 while Channel Banks and Xeyrius Williams follow with 68 and 60, respectively. Jackson ranks 20th in the NCAA, while Banks and Williams rank 99th and 151st, respectively. Cheese has 41 made 3-pointers.
2020 Vision
Four different players have at least 20 points 23 times this season. Loren Cristian Jackson leads with 11 20-plus point performances, registering a career-high 35 points twice in addition to a 33-, 31-, a trio of 28-, a pair of 26- and a pair of 20-point efforts. Tyler Cheese owns eight of those performances, scoring 20 points three times coupled with 25-, a pair of 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).
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 65.5 points per game, ranking No. 72 in the NCAA for scoring defense and 4th MAC. Akron limits opponents to 40.0 shooting from the floor (43rd NCAA, 2nd MAC) and 29.7 from long distance (33rd NCAA, 2nd MAC). Akron has caused 367 turnovers (13.6 t/g) with 132 steals (4.9 stl/g). In addition, players are sacrificing their bodies by taking charges as Banks leads with 23 followed by Cheese (19) and Jackson (17).
The Broadcasts
The Zips game will be broadcasted on ESPN3 with Paul Peck calling the action and Will Regan 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 returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for its final homestand of the regular season. The two gme stretch includes rivals Ohio and Kent State. On Tuesday, March 3, CBS Sports Network will broadcast the rematch between Ohio and Akron at 7:30 p.m. Three days later, Akron will share the floor with its cross-town rival, Kent State. On Friday, March 3, CBS Sports will again broadcast the game but this time at 6:30 p.m. Both games can also be heard on at SportsRadio1350.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.com/AkronZips. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.
