Akron to Face Top-Ranked Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Toledo, Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 PM | James A. Rhodes Arena | ESPN+

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Akron to Face Top-Ranked Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron Zips (4-3, 2-2 MAC) vs Toledo Rockets (11-3, 6-0 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 16 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m. • ESPN+

AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 239-175 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 59-44 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 30-28 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 64-58 (at Ohio and Akron)

TOLEDO HEAD COACH
Tod Kowalczyk (Minnesota-Duluth '89)
Overall Record: 331-259 (19th Season)
Record at UT: 195-147 (11th Season)
MAC Record: 100-80 (11th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Toledo Leads: 36-28 - Groce vs. Toledo 0-4 (5-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Toledo 99, Akron 89 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 18, 2020
First Meeting: Akron 37, Toledo 8 in Akron 1915-16 season
In Akron:16-12, Neutral: 1-1, In Toledo: 10-24

BROADCASTS
TV/Video: ESPN+: - Michale Reghi (PxP), Jacki Windon (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - Dave Skoczen (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst)
WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's basketball team returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for a Mid-American Conference bout against the top-ranked Toledo Rockets on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Akron is looking to increase it's home winning streak to 10 games, while snapping a streak of two consecutive losses and ending the Rockets' eight-game winning streak that dates back to Dec. 12, 2020.

The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn calling the action. The pregame show starts 30 minutes prior to the contest. The free audio stream is available at iHeart Radio and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.

THE AKRON-TOLEDO SERIES
Saturday's game marks the 65th meeting in series history between Akron and Toledo, and 11th meeting for a Groce coached squad (fifth at Akron). Toledo owns a 36-28 all-time series advantage while Groce is 5-5 all-time and 0-4 at Akron against the Rockets. The Zips have won eight of the last 16 meetings and snapped a four-game losing skid with a 71-65 win on Feb. 14, 2017, at James A. Rhodes Arena, but the Rockets swept last four games in the series.

In 2018, the two teams met at Savage Arena (Jan. 5) on CBS Sports Network as Toledo claimed a narrow 67-65 advantage. Almost a month later (Feb. 3), Toledo claimed its second win of the season, 77-56, at Rhodes Arena. Over the last two seasons, Toledo claimed the lone matchups at Savage Arena 63-52 (Feb. 5, 2019) and at James A. Rhodes Arena 99-89 (Jan. 18, 2020).

UA is 16-12 all-time at Rhodes Arena, 10-24 on the road at Savage Arena, and 1-1 in the MAC Tournament with a loss at Quicken Loans Arena.

SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
The Rockets own an 11-2 overall record, including a league-best 6-0 start and standing 6-0 at home, 4-2 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games this season. UT averages 78.4 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the floor and 39.7 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 11.0 triples a game. In addition, Toledo shoots 76.9 percent from the free throw line on 13.6 attempts per game.

Northern Illinois has four players averaging double-digits in points and one player nearly reaching the mark as Marreon Jackson leads the way with 16.2 points per game and distributes the squad's most assists with 70 helpers and is the leader in the takeaway category with 26 steals. Jackson has buried a second-best 43 triples, shooting 37.1 percent from deep while adding 52 rebounds for 3.7 boards per game.

Ryan Rollins follows with 14.4 points per game and is second on the glass with 5.6 rebounds per game. He has buried 25 3-pointers at a 37.9 percent rate and collected 12 steals. Setric Millner, Jr. and Spencer Littleson round out the double figure scorers with 13.4 and 13.1 points per game, respectively. Millner is the leader rebounder with 101 total boards for a 7.2 per game average while Littleson leads the Rockets from downtown with 48 made 3-point attempts and shooting at a remarkable 47.1 percent from deep. Additionally, JT Shumate averages 9.3 points per game.

Defensively, UT limits its opponents to scoring 68.1 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting from the floor and 28.8 percent from 3-point range, allowing 6.7long distance strikes per night. The Rockets caused 183 turnovers (13.1 to/g) with 80 steals (5.7 stl/g). Toledo outrebounds the opponent by a +2.8 margin as the opponent grabbed 492 total boards (35.1 rebs/g) compared to the Rockets 531 total rebounds (37.9 rebs/g) secured.

THE LAST MEETING
The Akron Zips suffered their first home loss - and first Mid-American Conference loss - of the 2019-20 season as the visiting Toledo Rockets earned a 99-89 road win on Jan. 18, 2020 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Loren Cristian Jackson led Akron with a (then) career-best 33 points in the loss. Tyler Cheese added 19 pointd, seven assists and five rebounds while Xeyrius Williams notched his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Toledo was able to pull out the win with a strong finish to the game, going on a late 7-0 run to help deal Akron its first home defeat of the season. It was a seesaw game that saw both teams hold - and lose - double-digit leads as run after run swung the momentum, setting up the dramatic finish. After a quick 4-0 burst to end the first half, the Zips came out of the halftime break breathing fire, uncorking a 16-2 run that erased a 10-point Toledo halftime lead and put the hosts in front at 52-48 less than four minutes into the second half. Akron claimed its first lead since the 8:22 mark of the first half at 50-48.

By ratcheting up its defensive intensity, Akron was able to erase memories of a first half in which Toledo missed just nine shots and committed only three turnovers. However, the Rockets had the last word by shooting 56.9 percent for the day, including 57.7 percent from 3-point range and 91.7 percent from the foul line. That intense Akron defense temporarily muted what had been a potent Toledo attack to that point and set the table for a whiplash-inducing change of momentum that saw the Zips go from a double-digit deficit to a double-digit lead in less than 6:30 of game time. Jackson capped the impressive turnaround with a fast break 3-pointer that brought the home crowd to its feet and prompted a timeout by the frazzled Rockets.

It was a twist of fate from an opening 20 minutes, in which the Rockets seemingly could not miss, tallying 65.4-percent (17-of-26) shooting, including 7 of 13 from long distance, the highest shooting percentage the Zips have allowed in a first half this season. Senior center Luke Knapke and guard Marreon Jackson led the expert marksmanship for the visitors, with each making three 3-pointers before intermission and combining for 24 points in the half. Jackson led Toledo with 36 points on the afternoon to top the Rockets, with senior forward Willie Jackson adding 23 and Knapke 19.

Akron did its best to stay within shouting distance as Toledo staged a big run to end the first half, using a 15-10 rebounding edge and a buzzer-beating trifetca from the right wing by Banks to narrow their deficit to 10 points, 46-36, heading to the locker room.

AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron opened 2020-21 MAC play with a 90-70 win over Ohio and followed with a 66-62 win over rival Kent State, before falling on the road in back-to-back contests against Eastern Michigan (71-59) and NIU (67-65). The Zips are 2-2 under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 68-19 (.795) 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 185-92 overall (.669), including a 114-24 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 185 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 103 of their last 150 MAC games (.685). Previously, the Zips posted a 59-36 mark (.617) in the last 95 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.

UP NEXT
On Tuesday, Jan. 19 the Zips travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a league game against the Bowling Green Falcons. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+, 640 WHLO AM or GoZips.com.

QUICK HITS

• Loren Cristian Jackson named Lute Olson National Player of the Week (Jan. 4) and MAC Player of Week last two weeks (Dec. 28 & Jan.4)
•Loren Cristian Jackson leads the team in scoring (22.8 ppg), Assists (7.0 APG), 3-Point FG (3.7/g)
• The Zips are 4-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and currently own an 9-game winning streak at the JAR
• Enrique Freeman's 21-rebound effort stands as the most by an Akron player since 1985.
• Bryan Trimble posted a career-high 6-of-6 from deep in MAC opener against Ohio
• Jackson, Dailey and Trimble combined for 14-of-20 from beyond the arc against Ohio 70.0 Percent
• Akron Top 100 NCAA rankings, 3rd 3PT FG % Def (24.1), 6th FT % (80.6), 17th DRebs/g (29.8), 26th 3Pt. FG/g (9.7), 30th Rebs/g (41.7), 35th Fewest Turnovers (81), 36th Fewest Fouls (110), 37th Reb Margin (+7.7), 54th Scoring Offense (79.8), 65th Scoring Margin (+10.5), 89th Ast/g (15.0), 93rd FG% (46.4), 100th ORebs/g (11.33), 100th W-L % (66.7)

Akron to Face Top-Ranked Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Cheese

Enrique Freeman

Loren Cristian Jackson

Xeyrius Williams

The University of Akron Athletics